Gender Differentiation and Perceived Ease of Usage of Electronic Resources by University Students in Selected Private Universities in Nigeria

Authors

  • Olusegun Oke Library, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.P.M.B 4000, Oyo State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2018/v55i3/123059

Keywords:

Electronic Resources, Gender, Nigeria, Perceived Ease of Use, Private Universities, Students, University

Abstract

The importance of electronic resources as the bedrock of provision of accurate, easy to access, relevant and, up-to-date information in learning and research cannot be over-emphasized. Through electronic resources’ use students have access to global resources for their academic activities. However, despite the potential benefit electronic resources holds for effective learning and research by students, studies have shown that their proper and maximum use is still a matter for discussion. This study, therefore, examined perceived ease of use and gender differences as factors influencing electronic resources use by students in selected private universities in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a population of 4,452 undergraduate students. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting the sample size for the study. Questionnaire was used for data collection which was analysed using descriptive statistics, standard deviation, Cross Tab Analysis (Pearson Chi-Square) and T-test. The result of the analysis revealed low usage of electronic resources by the students. It further revealed a renowned difference in gender differentiation. Also, a significant proportion of the students did not use electronic resources frequently. In addition, this study found that the respondents perceived use of electronic resources easy to use. However, the major constraints to electronic resources use by students were lack of knowledge of search techniques to retrieve information effectively, insufficient user training, lack of awareness, download delay and constant power failure. The findings indicated that both perceived ease of use and gender significantly influenced students’ use of electronic resources. Based on the findings, the study recommends that concerted effort by university libraries may ameliorate the problems of low use. Therefore, libraries should: integrate e-resources search techniques and retrieval skills into the curriculum of Use of Library taught at the universities, create awareness strategies by under taking university-wide lecture on access, promote e-resources through the use of e-mail alert and social media platforms, adopt various motivational strategies to encourage the use of electronic resources and should also endeavour to have standby generator, Inverter or Solar Power to limit the problem of constant power failure.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Abdulmumin, I. (2010). Electronic library use by academic staff at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Journal of Library and Information Science, 7(1&2), 138-149.

Aderibigbe, N. A., & Emmanuel, S. O. (2012). Use of Library Information Technology Resources by Graduate Students of University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Library Philosophy and Practice, 2012. http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/.

Adetunla, G. O. (2016). Perceived ease and use of electronic information resources by undergraduate students of private universities in Oyo State Nigeria. African Journal of Education and Practice, 1(2), 15–28. Accessed on March 6, 2018. Retrieved from: https:// www.iprjb.org/journals/index.php/AJEP/article/ view/115>.

Ani, O. E., & Ahiauzu, B. (2008). Towards effective development of electronic information resources in Nigerian University Libraries. Library Management, 29(6/7), 504–514. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120810894527.

Aramide, K. A., & Bolarinwa, O. M. (2010). Availability and use of audiovisual and electronic resources by distance learning students in Nigerian Universities: A case study of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Ibadan Study Centre. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). Retrieved from: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/393/.

Basil, M. D. & Camble, E. (2011). Gender differences in use of electronic resources in university libraries of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-Journal), 549. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/549.

Dadzie, P. S. (2005). Electronic Resources: Access and usage at Ashesi University College. Campus–wide Information Systems, 22(5). Accessed on October 2, 2014. Retrieved from: http//www.emeraldinsight.com.

Daramola, C. F. (2016). Perception and utilization of electronic resources by undergraduates: The case of the Federal University of Technology Library, Akure. American Journal of Educational Research, 4(5), 366370. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://pubs.sciepub.com/education/4/5/1.

Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quartely, 13(3), 319-340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008.

Gabikayo, A., & Okello-Obura, C. (2013). Electronic information resources utilization by students in Mbarara University library. Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-Journal). Accessed on Jun. 3, 2016, Retrieved from: Paper869.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/869.

Hindagolla, M. (2014). Understanding user acceptance of electronic information resources: Effects of content relevance and perceived abilities. 現代社会文化研究 (Modern Society and Culture), 59. 239-255.

Islam, M. (2010). The Use of the Library Catalogue by Undergraduates; Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/489/?utm_source=digitalcommons.unl.edu%2Flibphilprac%2F489&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign= PDFCoverPages

Israel, Glenn D. (1992). Sampling the Evidence of Extension Program Impact. Program Evaluation and Organizational Development, IFAS, University of Florida. p. 9.

Madondo, T., Sithole, N., & Chisita, C.T. (2017). Use of Electronic information resources by undergraduate students in the faculty of management and administration at Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe. Asian Research Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 2(2): 1-12. https:// doi.org/10.9734/ARJASS/2017/29633.

Manda, P. A., & Mulkangara, F. (2007). Gender analysis of electronic information resources use: A case of the university of Dares Salaam Tanzania. University of Dares Salaam Library Journal, 9(1), 31-52.

Omeluzor, S. U., Akibu, A. A., & Akinwoye, O. A. (2016). Students’ perception, use and challenges of electronic information resources in Federal University of petroleum resources Effurun Library in Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 1428. Retrieved from: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1428.

Omosekejimi, A. F., Eghworo, O. R., & Ogo, E. P. (2015). Usage of electronic information by undergraduates of Federal University of Petroleum resources Effurun. Information and Knowledge Management, 5(4). 94-103. Retrieved from: http://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IKM/article/viewFile/21658/22025.

Radjagopa, V., & Chinnasamy, K. (2013). International review of social sciences and humanities. DOAJ, 5(1), 94-104. www.irssh.com

Sharma, C. (2009). Use and impact of e-resources at Guru Bind Singh Indraprastha University (India): A case study. Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship, 10(1), 1-7.

Tibenderana, P., & Ogao, P. (2010). Measuring levels of end-users’ acceptance and use of hybrid library services. International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT), 6(2), 33-54.

Ukachi, N. B. (2013). Accessibility and students variables as correlates of the use of electronic information resources in university libraries in South-west, Nigeria. Phd Thesis Submitted to the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Udoh-Ilomechine, Q. (2008). The Significance of school libraries in the educational development of students: The case of Novena University Staff School, Kwale, Delta State, Nigeria. Retrieved from: http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/udoh.htm.

Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. B. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 23(3), 425-478. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540.

Waldman, M. (2003). Freshmen’s use of library electronic resources and self-efficacy. Information Research, 8(2).

Published

2018-06-12

How to Cite

Ebijuwa, A. S. (2018). Gender Differentiation and Perceived Ease of Usage of Electronic Resources by University Students in Selected Private Universities in Nigeria. Journal of Information and Knowledge, 55(3), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2018/v55i3/123059

Issue

Section

Articles
Received 2018-04-24
Accepted 2018-06-26
Published 2018-06-12