Effects of Demographic Factors and ICT Skills on the Utilization of E-Resources by University Undergraduate Students in Kwara State, Nigeria
Published: 2023
Author(s) Name: A. Olanrewaju Issa, T. Shamsudeen Ajibola, S. Ranti Nuhu, U. Ajisafe Saliu, S. A. Oguntayo |
Author(s) Affiliation: Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
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Abstract
This study examined the factors affecting the utilization of e-resources by undergraduate students in selected universities in Kwara State, Nigeria. It raised five (5) research questions and formulated two (2) hypotheses, adopting descriptive survey design, where questionnaire was used to collect data. The population for this study was university undergraduates in Kwara State with population of 53,130. However, the study sample comprises: University of Ilorin, 292(76.4%), Kwara State University, Malete 69(18.1%) and Al-Hikmah University, 21(5.5%). Simple random sampling technique was adopted to allow for equal chance of arriving at the selected respondents. The research questions were analyzed with descriptive statistics of frequency counts and simple percentage while the hypotheses were tested with PPMC, and t-test. Out of the 382 copies of the questionnaire administered on the respondents in the three universities, only 369 copies were retrieved from which only 358 copies were found to be duly completed and usable for the analysis. The findings of the study revealed that out of all the e-resources available in these university libraries, the most common one was the Internet resources, followed by online databases. Younger students were found to be ardent users of e-resources compared to older students and also exhibited some form of mastery and technical know-how well above those of older students. On ICT skills as predictors of e-resources utilization, competence and dexterity in ICT were essential requirements for the use of computers. Therefore, the study recommended that the undergraduate students should be sensitized on available e-resources in the library, be trained more on their ICT skills in order to propel them to make better utilization of e-resources towards their academic and other information needs. In contrast, the library management should carry out advocacy campaigns that will focus on older students in order to ensure that they consult e-resources like the younger ones do.
Keywords: Demographic Factors, ICT Skills, Utilization, Electronic Resources, Undergraduate Students
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