RURAL COMMUNICATION IN RADIO BAYELSA STATE AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
RURAL COMMUNICATION IN RADIO BAYELSA STATE AND
ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
ABSTRACT
This study evaluates
the rural communication in Radio Bayelsa and access to information for
development. The study focused on inadequate information that affect the development
of rural society. The research population consisted of both male and female,
educated and non-educated who are between the ages of 16-50 years old, using
the stratified random sampling, with a questionnaire containing open and closed
question as the research instrument, a total of two hundred (200) copies of
questionnaire were distributed but only (180) one-hundred and eighty were
retrieved. Data were analyzed using simple percentage and frequency tables.
Based on the responses, the study found out that radio is the common
communication medium used for rural development. Therefore, the study
recommended that government should empower radio programmes to inform and
motivate the rural people and radio information should be made more accessible
for rural people.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS PAGES
Title
page - - - - - - - - - i
Certification - - - - - - - - - ii
Dedication - - - - - - - - - iii
Acknowledgements
- - - - - - - iv
Abstract
- - - - - - - - - - v
Table
of contents - - - - - - - - vi
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0
Introduction - -
- - - - - - 1
1.1 Background
of Study - - - - - - 1
1.2 Statement of problem - - - - - - 4
1.3 Objectives of the study - - - - - - 5
1.4 Research questions - - - - - - - 6
1.5 Significance of the study - - - - - - 6
1.6 Scope of the study - - - - - - - 7
1.7 Limitation of the study - - - - - - 7
1.8 Definition of terms - - - - - - - 7
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE
REVIEW
2.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 9
2.1 Theoretical review - - - - - - - 9
2.1.1 Modernization paradigm - - - - - - 10
2.1.2 Participatory communication paradigm - - - 13
2.2 Conceptual review - - - - - - - 15
2.2.1 Concept of communication - - - - - 15
2.2.2 The role of Communication in the society - - - 17
2.2.3 Mass Communication - - - - - - 18
2.2.4 Mass Media - - - - - - - 19
2.2.5 The Functional Roles of the Mass Media - - - 19
2.2.6 Radio - - - - - - - - - 25
2.2.7 Rural Development - - - - - - 26
2.2.8 Basic Need Approach to Development - - - 30
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 34
3.1
Research design - - - - - - - 34
3.2 Research population - - - - - - 35
3.3 Research procedures - - - - - - 35
3.4 Research instrument - - - - - - 35
3.5 Method of data collection - - - - - 36
3.6 Method of data analysis - - - - - - 36
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA
PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS
4.0 Introduction - - - - - - - 37
4.1 Data presentation and analysis - - - - - 37
4.2 Data analysis - - - - - - - 47
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Introduction - - - - - - - 49
5.1 Summary of findings - - - - - - 49
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 50
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - 50
REFERENCES - - - - - - - - 52
Appendix
I - - - - - - - - - 53
Appendix
II (Questionnaire) - - - - - - 54
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
This
study focuses on rural communication in Radio Bayelsa State and access to
information for development.
In
this chapter, background to the study are presented, Statement of problem,
Purpose of the study, its Significance, Scope of the study, Limitations of the
study, Research questions and as well as Definition of key terms.
1.1 Background to the Study
Most of the rural people live in drab
poverty. They have less of everything except their children compared to their
urban counterparts. They have low literacy, inadequate health care facilities,
transportation, communication and other social services. A good number of their
children die as a result of malnutrition and lack of health care. The poverty that
restricts their material goods also curtails their store of information in
amount and in quantity. They tend to get by passed by information coming from
both external and conventional sources.
The rural dwellers operate within a
tight but known economic limit. They normally do not go out of their way to
seek for new information. They often prefer to stay with old practices, which
limit their production income or capital.
With
this kind of scenario, there is need for information flow to help develop the rural
people.
True development has to be people
oriented. It has to be directed at the fulfillment of human potentials and the
improvement of the social and economic well being of the people. Its objectives
must be to end poverty, provide productive employments and satisfy the basic
needs of the people. The basic goods and services such as food and Sheller,
basic education and health facilities and portable water must be accessible to
all.
Access to information is the first and
crucial step for development to take place in the rural areas. This is because
humans live in groups and interact in social processes through which
information, knowledge and ideas are exchanged. The application of such
knowledge is what brings about the development of society.
Nigeria, as a developing nation is
blessed with abundant human and natural resources, which are yet to be
explored. The majority of Nigeria population as with most developing nations
are rural dwellers and live in the rural areas where modern means of communication
facilities and infrastructures are not available ‘The only common medium
through which information can be passed on to those in rural areas for
development is radio broadcast.
The radio as a mass communication
medium is advantageous to other media. The radio is not limited by illiteracy
and poverty. This is because programmes on radio can be packaged in local
languages, thereby breaking the barriers of illiteracy. Radio is also cheap and
affordable by an average person. The radio can be operated with dry cell
batteries where there is no electricity.
The radio transmission cuts across
boundaries to get to those in remote areas. Also physical transportation of
substances are absent making it less expensive and less cumbersome in getting
to the rural people.
The use of indigenous languages,
especially in programmes targeted at achieving results can go a long way in
impacting directly on the lives of the people resulting to the development of
the people.
1.2 Statement of Problem
Lack or inadequate information can
affect the development of the society. The level of awareness of individuals in
a place can determine the degree of development of that place. In a place where
the people do not have access to modern means of communication development will
be impeded. A nation or a place can only be developed when the individuals of
the place have access to means of information.
There is a great difference in the
level of development between those who live in the city with modern means of
communication and those who are living in rural areas where there are not
modern means of communication. The difference is as a result of awareness
individuals in their surroundings and even outside their surroundings.
The radio is the only medium in
communicating to those in rural areas because of its uniqueness. The radio cuts
across boundaries hr getting to those in remote areas.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The
objectives of this study are to:
1.
Find out whether people in rural area of
Bayelsa have access to radio information.
2.
Find out how often people in rural area
listen to radio.
3.
Find out how much has radio contributed
to the development of the community.
4.
Find out how much impact radio has in
the life of the people in the rural area.
5. Find out if there are programmes targeted
at the rural people.
1.4 Research Questions
The
following are the research questions.
1. How people in rural areas of Bayelsa
State have access to radio information?
2. How often do the rural people listen to
radio?
3. How much has radio contributed to the
development of the community.
4. How much impact does radio has in the
lives of the people in the rural areas?
5. Do people in rural area of Bayelsa State
has any programme on radio targeted at
them?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The researcher enumerates how radio is
of immense source of information for the development of the rural people and
how this medium can be made accessible to the people in the rural areas. It is
also of use to the government to access how radio can be used to achieve development
in rural areas.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This research work does not cover all
the towns of Sagbama Local Government Area. It limited to only Kabiama, Dagama
Gbene and Agoro.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
Most respondents could not understand
the intricacies of the issue, thus it was difficult to extract precise data.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
This part of the study attempts a
definition of the major terms appearing in the context. Words might mean
different things to different people depending on how, when and where it is
used. The following variables will be defined;
i. Communication
ii. Radio
iii. Rural Development
iv. Development
v. Access to Information
1. Communication: The process of
transferring or transmitting messages from one
person to the other.
2. Radio: Is one of the mass media
channel of communication use to
reach heterogeneous audience.
3. Rural Development: Undeveloped
community that are going through a process
of change or advancement for the better.
4. Development: Is an ongoing process
of change to achieve a positive result.
5. Access to Information: Means
having free wheel of doing something. It can also
be the freedom of having something or receiving massage.
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