Information literacy competencies and proficiencies of undergraduate students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Abstract

This study investigated undergraduate students’ information literacy competencies and proficiencies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The study set out to ascertain the different understanding of information literacy, how they identify their information needs, locate, appraise, ethically and legally use information, and the problems they face in finding and using information efficiently and effectively. The study used Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process (ISP) model, which was initiated in the 1980s, improved in the 1990s, and adapted by Kuhlthau, Heinström and Todd (2008) as its theoretical framework. The researcher reviewed pertinent literature relating to information literacy and relevant to this study. The researcher adopted the case study method, which provides the opportunity to ask penetrating questions and captures the richness of organisational behaviour for this study. The qualitative approach, which employs the use of interviews for the collection of data, was used in this study. The population for this study was made up of undergraduate students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Quota sampling, a non-probability sampling technique, was employed in selecting respondents for the study from the sampled population. The population was seventy-eight thousand, and thirty-one (78 031), based on which a sample of seventy (70) participants was chosen. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data collected from the study participants. The findings of the study indicate that the participants understood information literacy differently. The participants were able to identify their information needs. The internet, library and librarians, and individuals were the sources of information for the participants. The participants understood information appraisal differently and could appraise information by the use of accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, purpose, and appropriateness of the information. The participants understood ethical and legal use of information as the right use of information and citation of sources, which ultimately helps prevent plagiarism. Finally, several challenges militating against access and use of information were mentioned by the participants. The challenges hindering access to, and use of information indicates areas for improvement in supporting information literacy.

The study recommended information searching skills for the students, awareness creation for the library’s resources, knowledge, preparedness, and willingness of librarians to teach information literacy, extension of library’s opening hours and the improvement of information and communication technology infrastructure of the university to help resolve the challenges the students face in accessing and using information. The study contributed to knowledge through the development of an Information Literacy Competency Model for undergraduate students to help resolve the challenges students face when accessing and using information.