Computer self-efficacy as a predictor of undergraduates’ use of electronic library resources in federal universities in South-west Nigeria
| Pages | 323-336 |
| Published date | 01 July 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-10-2018-0083 |
| Date | 01 July 2019 |
| Author | Adefunke Sarah Ebijuwa,Iyabo Mabawonku |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information in society,Information literacy,Library & information services |
Computer self-efficacy as a
predictor of undergraduates’use
of electronic library resources in
federal universities in
South-west Nigeria
Adefunke Sarah Ebijuwa
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria, and
Iyabo Mabawonku
Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies, University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract
Purpose –Undergraduates useelectronic library resources for academic activities.However, literature has
revealed that undergraduates’useof electronic library resourcesis low in Nigeria owing to attitude, computer
literacy and informationretrieval skills, while little attention was given to computer self-efficacy.This paper
aims to examine computerself-efficacy as a predictor of undergraduates’useof electroniclibrary resources in
federal universitiesin south-west Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach –The descriptive survey research design was adopted. Multi-stage
sampling methodwas used to select 1,526 undergraduates from the populationsize of 30,516 from six federal
universities in south-west Nigeria in four faculties (Arts, Engineering/ Technology, Science and Social
sciences) and three departments from each of the faculties(English, History and Philosophy; Electrical and
Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering: Economics, Sociology and
Psychology). Data werecollected using a questionnaire and were analysed using descriptivestatistics, mean
and standard deviation, Pearson’sProduct Moment Correlation, hierarchical and regressionanalyses at 0.05
level of significance.
Findings –There was a significant relationship between computer self-efficacy and use of electronic
library resources (r=0.13,p<0.05). The result of the a nalysis showed that c omputer self-efficacy
influenced undergraduates’use of electronic library resources in federal universities in south-west
Nigeria.
Research limitations/implications –The data for the researchwere obtained from undergraduates in
the selected faculties in the six federal universities except for two faculties which did not have some
departmentsthat were common to the selected faculties.
Practical implications –The findings indicated that computer self-efficacy improves the use of
electronic library resources for academic purposes. It therefore encourages the library management to
provide the necessary support and training for the undergraduates to acquire the technical skills
required for the acquisition of computer self-efficacy. This has greater influence on undergraduates’
ability to use the computer maximally to access electronic library resources for academic purposes.
Social implications –It will improve the undergraduates’useof electronic library resources for academic
purposes. This implies that the undergraduateswill have access to information around the world that could
be useful for developmentin and around their locality which will become easily accessible. Also,in this era of
computer, it will encourage readingculture among undergraduates. This could inform policymakers on the
need to providemore electronic library resources forlibraries.
Originality/value –The study provides original data on computer self-efficacy as a predictor of
undergraduates’use of electronic library resources in federal universities in south-west Nigeria. This can
Use of
electronic
library
resources
323
Received9 October 2018
Revised21 November 2018
Accepted30 November 2018
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.68 No. 4/5, 2019
pp. 323-336
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-10-2018-0083
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