TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Approval Page ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of contents vi
List of Tables x
Abstract xii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
Background
of the Study 3
Statement of the Problem 4
Purpose of the Study 5
Research Questions 6
Hypotheses 6
Significance of the Study 8
Scope of the Study 8
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE
REVIEW
Conceptual Framework
Concept and Importance of University Library 9
Concept of ICT-based library resources 11
Concept of Utilization and PG Research 14
Problems of Utilization of ICT-based Library Resources 27
Strategies for Enhancing the Utilization of ICT Library Resources 35
Theoretical Framework 38
Operant Conditioning Theory by B.F. Skinner 39
Errant and Holes Theory of Collaboration 39
Drive –Reduction Theory by Hull 40
Diffusion
of Innovation Theory
Related Empirical Studies 40
Summary of Literature Review 43
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHOD
Design of the Study 45
Area
of the Study
Population of Study 46
Sample and Sampling Techniques 47
Instrument of Data Collection 47
Validation for the Instrument 48
Method of Data Collection 49
Method of Data Analysis 49
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS 50
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 67
Discussion of Findings: 67
Implication of Findings 71
Recommendations 72
Limitations of the Study 73
Conclusion 74
Suggestions for Further Research 75
REFERENCES 76
APPENDICES 83
LIST OF TABLE
Table Page
1. Distribution and Return by Universities and Faculties 53
2. Availability of ICT-Based Library Resources 54
3.
Level of Availability of ICT-Based
Library Resources for Research Purposes 55
4.
Extent of Utilization of ICT-Based
Library Resources in Postgraduate Research 57
5. Mean and Standard deviation of the Respondents’ Rating on the Influences of University (Federal, State, and Private) Status on Utilization of ICT-Based
Library Resources for Postgraduate Research 59
6. Means and Standard Deviation of Respondents Rating According to Area of Study (Faculties of Education, Social Sciences, and Arts) on Extent of Utilization of ICT-Based Library Resources in Postgraduate Research 64
7. Mean and Standard Deviation of Respondents Ratings on the Problems Encountered in Utilization of ICT-Based Resources in Postgraduate Research 69
8. Mean and Standard deviation of Respondents Rating on Ways to Enhance Utilization of ICT-Based Resources. 70
9. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the mean difference in ratings of Postgraduate Students from Federal, State and Private Universities 71
10. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the Mean Difference in Rating of Postgraduate Students from Various Faculties (Education, Social Science, Arts) on the Extent of Utilization of ICT-Based Resources 72
11.
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the Mean
Difference in Ratings of Postgraduate Researchers of Universities
(Federal, State and Private) and Faculties (Education, Social Sciences,
and Arts) on the problems that Hinder ICT Utilization in Research 73
ABSTRACT
This
study was conducted to evaluate the ICT-based library resources in Nigerian
universities. This is with the aim of investigating the extent of utilization
of ICT-based library resources for postgraduate research in Nigerian
Universities (federal, state, and private). Six objectives and six research
questions guided the study. A sampling technique was used in carrying out the
work. A total number of five hundred and ten (510) respondents were used for
the study. The instruments for data collection were questionnaire and
observation checklist. Five hundred and ten (510) copies of the questionnaire
were distributed to the postgraduate researchers in the three universities in
the South East Nigeria and three hundred and sixty-six (366) were returned
representing 72% return rate. The following statistical measures were employed
for the data analysis: frequency table, mean (X) and Standard deviation (SD).
The findings revealed that there was a significant difference in the mean
ratings of postgraduate students in Federal, State and Private universities on
the utilization of ICT-based library resources for research. However, the
researcher observed that faculty of Education postgraduate researchers were
predominant users of ICT-based library resources. The findings also revealed
that postgraduate student’s lack of fund, high cost of internet use, incompetence
of library staff, lack of access to ICT resources, lack of ICT skills by users
and lack of awareness of ICT-based library resources are some of the challenges
affecting the use of ICT-based library resources. Based on the findings, it was
recommended that university libraries should make the cost of ICT-based library
resources affordable; update the skills of librarians on ICT-based resources;
educate the postgraduate research students on the use of ICT-based library
resources and make university websites freely available to the postgraduate
student researchers.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
of the Study
Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) is a merger of computing and telecommunication technologies
for information acquisition, storage, retrieval, and dissemination (Alhassan, and Afolabi, 2013). ICT has
become a global tool often used by individuals, organizations, governments and
intergovernmental organizations for personal or official activities. Its
application cuts across all fields of human endeavour like medicine, commerce,
engineering, architecture, education, library services, and agriculture. According
to Aina (2004), Information Technology (IT) is
an omnibus term that combines computer and telecommunication technology, hence
it is sometimes called Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It is
concerned with the technology used in handling, acquiring, processing, storing,
and disseminating information.
The computer is useful for
processing information while the telecommunication facilities provide means for
information communication or transfer using networks. However, for computers to
be able to communicate with one another there has to be a network which
provides a link, and when this link is across the globe, an international
network called the internet results. The internet is a connection of millions
of computers all over the world by networks (Ogbomo,
2004, Ibegwam, 2002). The availability of the internet as a major
component of ICT has improved access to information by information users
tremendously.
Libraries are
established on university campuses to serve primarily the students and staff of
that university and other institutions. The main function of university
libraries is to provide educational and information resources and research
support for students and staff of the institution. Some university libraries
are accessible to members of the general public as a whole. In the
university, the library plays a major role in making the university achieve its
objectives of teaching, research, and community service through the provision
of information resources for undergraduate instruction as well as postgraduate
research needs (Ifidon, 1999). The library
is a key player in education, research, and information provision; it has thus
been in the forefront in ICT application to its services. Libraries are
repositories of information in whatever format it may appear. A library is
primarily set up to acquire, organize, store and make accessible to users
within the quickest possible time all forms of information materials which they
require (Nwalo,2003). Libraries use ICT for
information acquisition, processing, and provision to library users. Madu and Adeniran (2005) summarizes the values of
ICT to libraries and library users to include better access to information,
encouraging active library co-operation, encouraging resource sharing,
efficient and effective delivery of service and providing access to
international databases.
ICT is a convenient tool for
research activities. According to Ifidon and Ifidon
(2007), research is man’s systematic and empirical investigation into
existing but hidden elements in nature with a view to unearthing,
understanding, and explaining such elements for the purpose of development.
Specifically, it is a human activity whereby answers are sought, with as great
an approximation of truth and accuracy as human knowledge makes possible, to
basic or fundamental questions concerning the phenomena of the universe (Alhassan, and Afolabi, 2013). This perception
of research cuts across all fields of human pursuit like education, arts,
social sciences, medicine, engineering, and agriculture.
In the university system, there
are specialists (postgraduate) in these various subject areas who are involved
in teaching, research and community service. Researches in the various fields
of science education, arts and social sciences are imperative for the
development of any nation and the world in general in view of the strategic
importance of education to man and its contribution to the economy of many
nations.
However, it is worrisome to note that Nigerian universities are lowly rated in terms of research within Africa and the world over ) ). This fact is evident in various authentic world rankings of universities. One then begins to wonder where the problem lies, if the university libraries in Nigeria are no longer functioning to provide the needed support for postgraduate students to improve their research, or if ICT facilities are not sufficiently used to further research activities as is the case in other countries. It is against this backdrop that this study examines the extent of utilization of ICT for postgraduate research in Nigerian federal, state and private universities. It specifically examines the types of ICT facilities used, the extent of utilization and constraints on their utilization.
EXTENT OF UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY- BASED LIBRARY RESOURCES BY POSTGRADUATE RESEARCHERS IN UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA
