An Investigation into the Relationship between Information Channels Chosen by Faculty and Its Impact on their Academic Role

Abstract

This study attempts to find out whether variations in the academic roles in teaching and research are associated with changes in the information channels used by faculty. The underlying assumption is that the specific roles cause major variations in the frequency levels in the use of information channels. After formulating six research hypotheses, testing of the targeted dimensions was done through information channels. The matched pairs Wilcoxon signed ranks test examined the hypotheses as a directional one tailed test at the 0.05 level of significance. Data generated via the questionnaire method, indicated that roles represent a large proportion of frequency variations in the use of the information channels. Out of six hypotheses, four hypotheses had validation from the generated data with the other two failing to support. The outcomes indicated that two information channels had a greater value on impacting teaching roles with the other channels (4) showing more tilt towards research roles.