KNOWLEDGE OF DIGITAL SKILL AND E-LIBRARY INFORMATION RESOURCE USAGE AMONG POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS

Abstract

This study examined knowledge of digital skill and e-library information resource usage among post-graduate (PG) students in Rivers State, Nigeria. Three research questions guided this study. Three hypotheses were tested in the study at 0.05 alpha level. The study combined descriptive and correlation designs. The population of this study was 2,591 PG students for 2021/2022 academic session in the Faculty of Education of two public universities in Rivers State. The sample size was 652 PG students drawn using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The instruments used to generate data were four sets of questionnaires. Cronbach alpha was used to ascertain the reliability indexes of the four questionnaires at 0.75, 0.85, 0.79, and 0.82. The data generated with the questionnaires were analysed using simple regression, mean, standard deviation and t-test. The findings of the study revealed that knowledge of digital skill is positively and highly correlated to usage of e-library information resource and timely completion of research papers among PG students. Findings further showed that organizing regular training for PG students for the purpose of upskilling their ability to seek-out what they want in e-libraries is a strategy for improving knowledge of digital skill among PG students. This study recommends that universities should continue to encourage and initiate programmes that are tailored to assist PG students to acquire digital and information resourcing skills to improve their ability to browse, search and obtain relevant information from e-libraries and e-databases.