Assessing the impact of ICT on research activities in Ghana: a case study of selected CSIR Institutes

Abstract

People have no doubt nowadays about the profound impacts of information and communications technologies (ICT) on their social life and the economic structure of their country. Whether the impact of ICT is big or small, the final result will depend upon the environment in which ICTs are applied and the attitudes of the authorities who implement them. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of ICT on research activities in CSIR. The research methodology adopted for this study was the case study approach. The quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to collect data from respondents in the five selected research institutes of CSIR. The study shows that ICT have a positive impact on research activities.ICT tools has proven to be very helpful in finding needed information quickly and easily and also help the researchers to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate information more easily. The study also identified lack of training in ICT, insufficient computer hardware and suitable software and lack of required internet bandwidth as the major hindrances faced by the researchers in CSIR. The study recommended improvement in ICT infrastructure, proper training and guidance for optimum utilization of ICT-based technologies