INFORMATION SEEKING ANXIETY AND USE OF ELECTRONIC RESOURCES AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 18 - 29, 29.07.2022

Oluyinka Afolayan

https://doi.org/10.16918/jblu.1036348

Abstract

Academic libraries house a vast array of electronic resources for research purposes. However, Post-Graduate students oftentimes may experience anxiety in their information seeking tasks. This study investigated information anxiety and use of electronic resources among post-graduate students in the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. 150 post-graduate students were selected from Five Faculties using convenience sampling technique. A survey research design was adopted using a validated questionnaire to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that the post-graduate students of the University of Ilorin utilize e-resources immensely. However, some challenges were faced in the use of e-resources such as erratic power supply, poor network connectivity and lack of adequate knowledge to access e-resources among others. Furthermore, results revealed a high level of information seeking anxiety, however no significant difference was found in the information seeking anxiety between males and females. Demographic characteristics such as gender and age did not influence post-graduate students' information seeking anxiety, while program of study had the strongest contribution to their information seeking anxiety. In conclusion, recommendations were made towards improving the use of e-resources among the post-graduate students; and also suggesting ways of managing information seeking anxiety experienced among students.

Keywords

Information seeking anxiety, E-resources, Academic libraries, information searching, Post-graduate students

References

• Abusin, K. A. & Zainab, A. N. (2010). Exploring library anxiety among Sudanese university students. Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science, 15(1): 55‐81.
• Aghaei, F. Soleymani, M.R. & Rizi, H.A. (2017). Information seeking anxiety among M.A. Students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 6(14)
• Chowdhury, S. & Gibb, F. (2009). Relationship among activities and problems causing uncertainty in information seeking and retrieval. Journal of Documentation, 65(3): 470‐499.
• Edem, N.B. & Egbe, N. (2016). Availability and utilization of electronic resources by postgraduate students in a Nigerian University library: A case study of University of Calabar, Nigeria. Information and Knowledge Management, 6(12): 60-69.
• Erfanmanesh, M. (2012). Investigating information seeking anxiety among postgraduate students: development and validation of a multidimensional scale (PhD dissertation), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
• Khadivi S. A. (2006). Study of library and electronic resources anxiety among the students at the Medical University of Isfahan. Student Educational Psychology, 14(3):117–34.
• khan, J. (2016). Awareness and use of digital resources and services in the IIT Delhi Library. International journal of research-granthaalayan, 4 (6), 64-71.
• Mammo, Y., & Ngulube, P. (2015). Academics use and attitude towards open access in selected higher learning institutions of Ethiopia. Information Development, 31(1):13-26.
• Naveed, M. A. & Ameen, K. (2016). Measuring students’ level of anxiety in information seeking tasks. Pakistan Journal of Information Management and Libraries. 17: 56-68.
• Okiki, O. C. (2012). Electronic information resources awareness, attitude and use by academic staff members of University of Lagos, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e- journal).828 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/lipphiprac/828
• Okon, H.I. & Lawal O.O. (2012). Use of electronic resources by graduate students of the Department of Educational Technology, University of Uyo. Global Journal of Educational research, 12 :9-17.
• Ojo. O.J. (2016). Information anxiety and Information overload of Undergraduates in Two Universities in South-West Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal).1368 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1368
• Owolabi, S., Idowu, O.A., OKocha, F. & Ogundare, A.O. (2016). Utilization of electronic information resources by undergraduate students of University of Ibadan: A case study of Social Sciences and Education. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(13): 30-36.
• Sharma, C. (2009). Use and impact of e-resources at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (India): A case study. Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship 10(1).
• Tekale, R. B. & Dalve, D. B. (2012). E-resources review of research. Retrieved from: http://www.reviewofresearch.net/
• Ukpebor, C.O. (2012). Availability and use of electronic resources in African universities: The Nigerian perspective. PNLA Quarterly, 76(3): 190-199. www.pnla.org
• Wilson, T.D. (1999). Models in information behaviour research. Journal of Documentation, 55(3), 249‐270.