Socio-demographic Characteristics and Utilization of Electronic Information Resources Among Nigerian University Students

The study investigated the socio-demographic characteristics and use of electronic information resources among university students in Nigeria. The study employed a survey research method. Questionnaires were used as data collection instruments. The population of the study comprised 377 final year undergraduates from three (3) purposively selected universities in Nigeria. The findings of the study revealed that the purpose of conducting research is the main reason for using the EIRs by the students while insufficient skill to retrieve needed information is the major challenge facing the use of EIRs. The study also indicates that gender does not significantly influence the use of electronic information resources by final year undergraduate students in Nigerian universities. It was revealed that there is a significant influence of undergraduate students’ age on their use of electronic information resources. The study recommended, among others, the need for the inclusion of computer training in the university curriculum.

Abbreviation: ICT = Information and Communication Technology; EIRs = Electronic Information Resources; CD-ROM = Compact Disc Read Only Memory; FUNAAB = Federal University of Agriculture; UI = University of Ibadan; UNILAG = University of Lagos; DF = Degree of Freedom; St. Dev = Standard Deviation; MS = Mean Square; SS = Sum of Square; P = Probability; E-book = Electronic Book; E-journal = Electronic Journal