ABSTRACT
The study was to find out whether students utilize information retrieval devices to access library resources. To achieve this, five specific objectives were proposed with their corresponding research questions and four null hypotheses formulated. Descriptive survey design was employed to guide the study. The population was 11, 004 registered library users, with 550 sample represented 5% of the population. The two sampling techniques adopted were simple stratified proportionate and accidental sampling methods. Questionnaire was used for data collection, which contained 41 items in five clusters, validated by two experts in Library and Information Science and one Measurement and Evaluation specialist in College of Education University of Agriculture, Umudike. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was calculated using Cronbach Alpha Formular which returned at 0.82 alpha coefficient. 550 copies of SURDAL-RQ were administered to students using the libraries. 496 copies of the questionnaire were collated and used for the analysis, which gave 90.2% useable rate. The analysis were done using descriptive statistic of frequency count and mean to answer the research questions, and t-test inferential statistic to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that students’ utilization of the identified information retrieval devices in accessing library resources were low, however, the low utilization does not significantly differ based on gender. In addition, the students encounter several challenges while using the retrieval tools which include but not limited to: library staff not helpful, when students encountered any challenge using retrieval tools, Students lacked the knowledge on how to use retrieval devices to access library resources. The conclusion drawn from the findings was that due to lack of knowledge on how to utilise information retrieval devices to access library resources students do not use them. Some of the major recommendations made were, that user education must be made compulsory, where retrieval skill should be emphasized, regular training of library staff should be ensured and computerization of information retrieval devices.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables ix
List of Figures x
Abstract xi
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 10
1.3 Purpose
of the Study 11
1.4 Research Questions 12
1.5 Hypotheses 12
1.6 Significance of the Study 13
1.7 Scope of the Study 13
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW
OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Conceptual Framework 14
2.1.1 Library and university libraries 14
2.1.2 Library resources and accessibility of
library resources 18
2.1.3 Information retrieval and information
retrieval devices 23
2.2 Theoretical Framework 46
2.2.1 Information Theory by Claude Elwood Shannon
and
Warren Weaver (1848) 46
2.2.2 Theory of Connectionism by Edward Thorndike
(1874 - 1949) 48
2.3 Review of Related Empirical Studies 49
2.4 Summary of Literature Review 69
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODS
3.1 Design of the Study 72
3.2 Area of the Study 72
3.3 Population of the Study 75
3.4 Sample and Sampling Technique 75
3.5 Instrument for Data Collection 76
3.6 Validation of the Instrument 77
3.7 Reliability of the Instrument 77
3.8 Method of Data Collection 78
3.9 Method of Data Analysis 79
CHAPTER
4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Results 80
4.2 Summary of Findings 90
4.3 Discussion of Findings 91
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of the Study 98
5.2 Conclusion 101
5.3 Implication of the study 102
5.4 Recommendations 102
5.5 Suggestions for Further Studies
104
References
105
Appendices
120
LIST
OF TABLE
Pages
4.1 Summary of frequency count, mean and
standard deviation
on Students’ Use of
Abstracts to Access Library Resources 81
4.2 Summary of t-test analysis on students’
use of abstracts to
access library resources
82
4.3
Summary of frequency count, mean and
standard deviation on
students’ use of bibliographies to
access library resources 83
4.4
Summary of t-test analysis on
students’ use of bibliographies to
access library resources 84
4.5 Summary of frequency count, mean and
standard deviation on
students’ use of catalogues to access
library resources 85
4.6
Summary of t-test analysis on
students’ use of catalogues to
access library resources
86
4.7 Summary of frequency count, mean and
standard deviation on
students’ use of indexes to access
library resources 87
4.8
Summary of -test analysis on
students’ use of indexes to
access library resources
88
4.9 Summary of frequency count, mean and
standard deviation on
challenges encountered using IRDs to
access library resources 89
LIST OF FIGURES
Pages
2.1 Model of Shannon and Weaver Information
Theory 47
2.2 Modified model of Shannon and Weaver
Information
Theory, as it is related to the study
47
EDWARD, E (2023). Utilization Of Information Retrieval Devices And Students’ Access To Library Resources In Federal University Libraries In South-East, Nigeria. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Sep 08, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/utilization-of-information-retrieval-devices-and-students-access-to-library-resources-in-federal-university-libraries-in-south-east-nigeria-7-2
EDWARD, EDWARD. "Utilization Of Information Retrieval Devices And Students’ Access To Library Resources In Federal University Libraries In South-East, Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 12 Sep. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/utilization-of-information-retrieval-devices-and-students-access-to-library-resources-in-federal-university-libraries-in-south-east-nigeria-7-2. Accessed 08 Sep. 2024.
EDWARD, EDWARD. "Utilization Of Information Retrieval Devices And Students’ Access To Library Resources In Federal University Libraries In South-East, Nigeria". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 12 Sep. 2023. Web. 08 Sep. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/utilization-of-information-retrieval-devices-and-students-access-to-library-resources-in-federal-university-libraries-in-south-east-nigeria-7-2 >.
EDWARD, EDWARD. "Utilization Of Information Retrieval Devices And Students’ Access To Library Resources In Federal University Libraries In South-East, Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2023). Accessed 08 Sep. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/utilization-of-information-retrieval-devices-and-students-access-to-library-resources-in-federal-university-libraries-in-south-east-nigeria-7-2