Survey of Education, Engineering, and Information Technology Students’ Knowledge of Green Computing in Nigerian University

Abstract

The use of computer system is growing rapidly in the world today and there is also growing concern on the environmental hazard associated with its use. This necessitates the need for users’ to acquaint with the knowledge of using it in an environmental friendly manner. This study therefore, investigated the knowledge of green computing possessed by university students in Nigeria. To achieve this, survey method was employed to carry out the study. The study involved students from three departments (Computer Science, Engineering, and Education). Purposive sampling method was used to draw three hundred (300) respondents that volunteer to answer the questionnaire administered for gathering the data of the study. Out of the three hundred questionnaires distributed, two hundred and seventy-six (276) were used for data analysis. In all, one hundred and sixty seven (167) respondents were male, while one hundred and nine (109) were female. The instrument used for gathering the data was adapted and modify before it was used. The instrument was subjected to pilot testing to ascertain its validity and internal consistency. The reliability of the instrument showed a .75 Cronbach’s alpha level. The three research questions of the study were answer with descriptive statistic (percentage), t-test and Analysis of Variance. The findings showed that the students do not possess adequate knowledge on conscious use of computing system. Also, the study showed that there is no significant difference in the green computing knowledge possesses among male and female as well as among students’ from engineering, education and computer science. Based on these findings, the study suggested among other an aggressive campaign on green computing practice among university communities.