MEDIA LITERACY AND GLOBAL ECONOMIC AWARENESS AMONGECONOMICS EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATES IN OGUN STATE,NIGERIA: PATTERNS OF ONLINE RESOURCE USE

Abstract

This study examined media literacy and global economic awareness among Economics Education undergraduates
in Ogun State, Nigeria, with a focus on patterns of online resource use. A descriptive survey research design was
adopted to provide an empirical assessment of these constructs as they naturally occur among university students.
The population comprised undergraduate Economics Education students from Tai Solarin Federal University of
Education, Ijagun, and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, and a sample of 313 year-three students was
selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through three validated instruments: the
Exposure to Online Economic Resources Questionnaire, the Economic Media Literacy Scale, and the Students’
Understanding of Global Economic Issues Scale, with reliability coefficients ranging from 0.81 to 0.86. Data were
analysed using descriptive statistics, including mean scores and standard deviations. The findings revealed a high
level of exposure to online economic resources (weighted mean = 3.02, SD = 0.75), indicating frequent
engagement with digital journals, economic websites, and global news platforms. The results also showed a high
level of economic media literacy (weighted mean = 3.03, SD = 0.74), suggesting that students were able to identify
credible information, evaluate sources, recognise bias, and distinguish between factual content and opinions. In
addition, students demonstrated a high level of understanding of global economic issues (weighted mean = 3.13,
SD = 0.70), including inflation, globalisation, global conflicts, and the role of international economic institutions.
The study concludes that students exhibit high levels of online economic resource exposure, economic media
literacy, and understanding of global economic issues, and recommends sustained integration of online economic
resources and media literacy instruction to further strengthen students’ global economic understanding.