Aglazor, Genevieve; Inyang, Mary Imo & Omoogun, Remi Modupe
Abstract
The major focus of this study was to investigate the relationship between smart phone use skills and cheating tendencies of prospective teachers in tertiary institutions in Cross River State. The population consisted of all the prospective teachers in tertiary institutions in Cross River State. The researchers employed accidental sampling method and the final study sample consisted of two hundred and sixty four (264) prospective teachers (m= 121, f=143). The instrument for data collection was a twenty one (21) item questionnaire titled Prospective Teachers Smart Phone Use Skills and Cheating Tendencies (PTSPUSCT). The research instrument was divided into three sections; Section A sought for personal and demographic data of the respondents. Sections B sought for data on respondents’ smart phone use skills while Section C measured cheating tendencies. Both sections B and C utilised a four point scale. The Cronbach Alpha for Section B was 0.81 while Section C was 0.79. One hypothesis was tested using the Pearson product moment correlation (SPSS) and the result showed a very strong relationship between prospective teachers’ smart phone use skills and cheating tendencies. Based on the result, the following recommendations were made (1) Examinations should be more of applied questions where prospective teachers are required to apply knowledge and skills rather than regurgitating facts (2) Related punishments as prescribed by the institutions should be followed through to serve as deterrent and (3) Seminars and workshops should be organized for prospective teachers to expose long term ills of cheating.