Perception and Use of Electronic Information Resources by Undergraduates of Two Federal Universities in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines perception and use of EIRs by undergraduates of two federal universities in southwest, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design of the correlational type was adopted for this study. A two stage sampling technique was also adopted for this study to arrive at a sample size of 226 out of 50,598 undergraduates of the two federal universities. Data was collected through questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation at 0.05 level of significance. Electronic journals, electronic magazines and websites are the most used EIRs by the undergraduates (=5.0). The most notable purposes of use are: to complement lecture notes and to prepare for examinations (=5.0) and the level of use of EIRs is high at grand mean 36.1. Also, at a weighted mean of 2.81, the perception of the students towards EIRs is positive. A weak and positive relationship was found to between perception and use of EIRs at r=.158.The use of EIRs by undergraduates is both academically and socially beneficial to them hence, they should be encouraged to continue making use of them. Because the level of use of EIRs by the undergraduates is high and they have a generally positive perception towards EIRs, university authorities should put in efforts (with regard to infrastructure provision, trainings etc.) that will support their undergraduates in the use of the resources.