Browsing by Author "Krubu, Dorcas Ejemeh"

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    Information behaviour of Nigerian undergraduates in the world of Web 2.0
    (Sabinet, 2018) Krubu, Dorcas Ejemeh; Zinn, Sandy
    This study investigated the information behaviour of Nigerian undergraduates in the world of Web 2.0 at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria. The study is drawn from a doctoral thesis that used a mixed methods approach. The population and sample of the study was a total of 803 undergraduate students. Three research questions which focused on the information needs, information resources and infrastructure, and barriers to information seeking were answered using a questionnaire. The study revealed that students need information both for academic purposes and in their everyday life experiences. The data provide support for the convenience school of thought. It seems that time constraints and the inconvenience of traditional sources might be critical factors in the choices that students make in their information seeking. The barriers which students experience are both physical and intellectual. The physical barriers relate to technical issues such as the system freezing, server down time, access speed, and erratic power supply. The intellectual barriers concern their inability to choose appropriate subject headings, keywords, formulating search strategies, and choosing appropriate databases.
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    Making sense of the information seeking process of undergraduates in a specialised university: revelations from dialogue journaling on WhatsApp messenger
    (Informaing Science Institute, 2017) Krubu, Dorcas Ejemeh; Zinn, Sandy; Hart, Genevieve
    AIM/PURPOSE The research work investigated the information seeking process of undergraduates in a specialised university in Nigeria, in the course of a group assignment. BACKGROUND Kuhlthau�s Information Search Process (ISP) model is used as lens to reveal how students interact with information in the affective, cognitive and physical realms. METHODOLOGY Qualitative research methods were employed. The entire seventy-seven third year students in the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas and their course lecturer were the participants. Group assignment question was analysed using Bloom�s Taxonomy while the information seeking process of the students was garnered through dialogue journaling on WhatsApp Messenger. CONTRIBUTION The research explicates how students� information seeking behaviour can be captured beyond the four walls of a classroom by using a Web 2.0 tool such as WhatsApp Messenger FINDINGS The apparent level of uncertainty, optimism, and confusion/doubt common in the initiation, selection, and exploration phases of the ISP model and low confidence levels were not markedly evident in the students. Consequently, Kuhlthau�s ISP model could not be applied in its entirety to the study�s particular context of teaching and learning due to the nature of the assignment. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTITIONERS The study recommends that the Academic Planning Unit (APU) should set a benchmark for all faculties and, by extension, the departments in terms of the type/scope and number of assignments per semester, including learning out-comes. RECOMMENDATION FOR RESEARCHERS Where elements of a guided approach to learning are missing, Kuhlthau�s ISP may not be employed. Therefore, alternative theory, such as Theory of Change could explain the poor quality of education and the type of intervention that could enhance students� learning. IMPACT ON SOCIETY The ability to use emerging technologies is a form of literacy that is required by the 21st century work place. Hence, the study demonstrates students� adaptation to emerging technology. FUTURE RESEARCH The study is limited to only one case site. It would be more helpful to the Nigerian society to have this study extended to other universities for the purpose of generalisation and appropriate intervention.