Competency Training Needs of Business Education Lecturers on the usage of Assessment Software Applications in North-east Nigerian Universities

Abstract

This study determined the training needs on the usage of assessment software applications for research activities among business education lecturers in North-east Nigerian universities. The study adopted explanatory sequential mixed method design. Two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The study’s population consists of 57 business education lecturers in Abubakar  Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Modibbo Adama University Yola and University of Maiduguri. Total population sample was used for the quantitative part of the study, whereas three participants were selected for the qualitative part of the study using purposeful sampling technique. A dual-re- sponse format structured questionnaire was developed as a quantitative data collection instrument based on Borich needs assessment model, while an open-ended interview was used for qualitative data collection. The questionnaire was validated by five experts while the validity of the interview schedule was conducted using participants’ check- ing. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach alpha after a pilot study at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, the coefficients of 0.85 (importance) and 0.83(ability) were found, signifying that the instrument was reliable. The reliability of the interview schedule was determined using a peer debriefing method. The data was collected by the researchers and two trained research assistants. Forty-eight questionnaires were retrieved repre- senting eighty-four percent rate of return. The quantitative data generated from research question one was analyzed using Mean Weighted Discrepancy Score (MWDS). Research question two was analyzed using thematic analysis, the null hypothesis was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The findings of the study among others indi- cated that business education lecturers in universities in North-east Nigeria need training in the usage of assessment software applications, also significant differences do not exist on the training needs among accounting, marketing and OTM lecturers. The study recommends that stakeholders in education should ensure that business education lecturers in North-east Nigerian universities are trained on the effective use of assessment software applications.