Accessibility and utilization of electronic information resources for research by academic staff at selected Nigerian universities between 2005 and 2012

Abstract

This article explored the extent of the accessibility and utilization of electronic resources by academic staff at two Nigerian universities: the University of Calabar and the University of Ibadan. A quantitative research method was adopted in the study, and a questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The study population was comprised of 2,035 academic staff at the surveyed universities, and a sample size of 586 academics was used in the study. A total of 324 completed copies of the questionnaires were retrieved and used for data analysis representing a response rate of 55.3%. The findings of the study revealed a poor electronic information environment at the surveyed universities. There was no significant influence of demographic variables, such as discipline and education, on the accessibility and utilization of electronic resources among respondents, but gender, age, and professional rank were found to have effect on the accessibility and utilization of electronic resources in the survey. The article concluded that an increase in investment in information and communication technology facilities by university management will lead to improvement in electronic information environment at the surveyed universities and recommended that Nigerian universities increase their investments in information and communication technology infrastructural facilities considerably to be in line with the emerging digital trend at universities around the world.