The Transformative Impact of Digitization on Academic Research

Abstract

This paper concerns itself with the impact of digitalization on Academic research. It highlights the advantages and some of the limitations and concerns of modern tools of digitalization. Existing tools since the fall of the 20^th century has improved data conversion, digital tools and platforms and some forms of data management and preservation. With the emergence of high-speed broadband internet, came the use of big data for all stages of research – conception of research through hypothesis generation, research methodology, data analyses and prediction. More than that, digitization has increased real time collaboration across the world among scholars almost as a complete alternative to in-person interaction. To this effect, data repositories are shared and onboarding for research processes and protocols are automated and seamless. There are however some concerns in terms of the limitations of advance technologies – in terms of ethical concerns, consistency in output and paradoxically, increased digital divide between the developed countries and developing countries. The government is recommended to assist to reduce the gaps by investing in equitable distribution and redistribution of internet access and infrastructure.