Incidents of Cyberbullying Among Library and Information Science (LIS) Students at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore incidents of cyberbullying among library and information science (LIS) students at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted in this study. This design was adopted because it would permit the researchers to investigate the current status of the incidents of cyberbullying among library and information science students at Delta State University, Abraka and did not involve manipulation of variables. The population and sample of this study consisted of year three undergraduate library and information science student of Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. This is made of 80 students in 2013/2014 academic session. The questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. Frequency counts and percentage were used for data analysis. The study revealed that 80% of the students have knowledge of cyberbullying; 80% of them have been cyberbullied; the types of cyberbullying experienced include harassment, flaming, masquerade, denigration, exclusion, outing and trickery, and cyberstalking in that order; 40.6% of the students were cyberbullied via Facebook, 37.5% via cell phone, 31.3% chat room, 21.9% via instant messaging, 14.1% e-mail; 35.9% of them perceived perpetrators of the cyberbullying to be friends, 25 anonymous/don't know, 23.4% ex-lover, 15.6% course mate; the effects of cyberbullying on the students are anger (40.6%), low self-esteem (25%), depression (21.9%), low academic performance (20.3%), school phobia (15.6%). This study provided primary data on students and cyberbullying in a developing country. The findings would enable educational authorities to know the status of cyberbullying among university students, which would help them to educate the students on the issues involved and plan intervention actions that will assist the students to deal with experience of cyberbullying.