A SURVEY ON INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS AND USE OF E-RESOURCES BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to analyse the information literacy skills and utilisation of electronic resources among undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education at the University of Port Harcourt. The study focused on analysing the electronic resources utilised by undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education at the University of Port Harcourt. It aimed to determine the students' perception of using electronic resources, assess their level of information literacy skills, and identify the challenges they face when utilising electronic resources in their studies. The study utilised a survey descriptive research design. A questionnaire was utilised to collect data, with responses measured on a four-point Likert scale ranging from Strongly Agree (SA) to Strongly Disagree (SD).

The collected data was analysed using frequency tables. Additionally, hypothesis testing was conducted using the T-test Statistical Tool in SPSS v23. The sample size for this study consisted of 266 conveniently selected respondents. These respondents were all 400 level undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education at the University of Port Harcourt, located in Rivers State. Among the 266 participants, a total of 239 responses were collected, and out of those, 209 were deemed valid based on the survey criteria. The study utilised the Big6 skill model and Kuhlthau's model of the information search process (ISP). Based on the analysis of the responses, it was found that undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education at the University of Port Harcourt utilise a range of electronic resources.

These resources include e-Books, e-Journals, OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue), reference sources, electronic databases, search engines, e-discussions, e-news, online magazines, and the internet. The study found that undergraduate students have a positive perception of electronic resources. They believe that electronic resources provide valuable instructions for teaching and research, are user-friendly, play a significant role in academic research, offer access to a wide range of information, help students acquire more knowledge for their studies, and provide sufficient resources for students to access. In addition, the study revealed that undergraduate students in the faculty of education at the University of Port Harcourt possess various information literacy skills.

These skills include the ability to identify the information they require, search for information online, evaluate information effectively, utilise information sources, integrate information into their existing knowledge, and differentiate potential information resources. The study revealed several challenges encountered by undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education at the University of Port Harcourt when using electronic resources. These challenges include a lack of awareness about electronic information resources, insufficient searching skills, slow internet access, a lack of skills in retrieving information, a scarcity of relevant e-resources, inadequate ICT facilities, and unreliable power supply. Additionally, the study revealed that there is no statistically significant variation in the average response among different electronic resources utilised by undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education at the University of Port Harcourt.

Similarly, the study findings indicate that there is no notable variation in the average perception of undergraduate students regarding the utilisation of electronic resources within the faculty of education at the University of Port Harcourt. There is no statistically significant difference in the average level of information literacy skills among undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education at the University of Port Harcourt. Based on the findings, it is recommended to implement a continuous awareness programme in university libraries. This programme would aim to inform academics about the availability of information resources, particularly e-resources. The provision of additional computers with Internet access in universities by university administrations is necessary. Increasing the bandwidth for Internet connectivity is necessary in order to enhance the speed at which information is accessed from the Internet. In addition, it is important to consider organising seminars and workshops for tertiary students that focus on developing the necessary skills for effectively searching, evaluating, retrieving, and utilising electronic resources. It is important to promote the utilisation of electronic resources among students, as they can greatly benefit both their academic pursuits and personal growth.