Assessment of Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of Postgraduate Students at the University of Nairobi

Abstract

The use and access of information resources is rapidly shifting due to technology advancement and changing information needs of postgraduate students and inadequate information resource tools. The purpose of the study was to assess the information needs and seeking behavior of postgraduate students in public universities. The study’s specific objectives sought to examine the information needs of postgraduate students in public universities, examine their information seeking behavior of postgraduate students at the University of Nairobi, establish the types of information resources and services used by postgraduate students, explore the challenges faced by postgraduate students while accessing information resources in the public university, including possible solutions. The study was based on both quantitative and qualitative research methodology. The study was conducted at the University of Nairobi- main campus. The research was informed by Wilson (1999) Model of Information Seeking Behavior. The study employed stratified random sampling technique to sample. The target population was 1,830 postgraduate students in the school of humanities and social sciences and the sample size was 328 students. Data collected was analyzed using tables, graphs, pie charts. The findings indicated 76% of the respondent’s information seeking behaviour anchored on finding information that would primarily allow them to pass their examinations. The findings also revealed that 60% of the students sought information using various retrieval tools such as OPAC to be of main importance in their diverse needs for accessing information. Furthermore, inadequate e-resources, poor quality service delivery, inadequate IT infrastructure, inadequate user training, and slow internet connection were identified as major challenges. The recommended strategies for improvement were that, libraries should increase the allocation of internet bandwidth, improve on the service delivery and offer frequent information literacy to the students. The study will be useful in guiding public universities and other academic libraries in providing access to information.