INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS AT HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Due to the increase of information resources in multiple formats the need for information literacy skills among postgraduate (PG) students has become a necessary pre-requisite for effective utilization of Information Communication Technology (ICT)-based services, and for continued access to information. The purpose of this study was to examine information literacy (IL) skills among Postgraduate students at Haramaya University. The study was based on 196 first-year postgraduate students randomly drawn from eight colleges and two purposively selected officals of the Univerrity’s libiraries (i.e. the Director of academic libraries and one supervisor for library information services. In order to collect the relevant information, the study employed a self-administered questionnaire and semi-structured interview protocol. Quantitative data were coded, and statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).Specifically, descriptive statistics were used to present data in tabular and percentage form while inferential statistics such as t-test, ANOVA, multiple regressions were employed to answer specific research questions. On the other hand, qualitative data generated form semi-structured interviews were interpreted and presented in narrative form The findings descriptive statistics shows that about 42 % of postgraduate students do not have any idea about Boolean and Phrase search strategies The t-test result shows that first year postgraduates students, regardless of their fields of study, found to report significantly less than “moderate” level of information literacy skills with respect to ability to identify , locate and evaluate information. with the exception of ability to use information . According to the findings, age is the only significant predictor of ability to use information; The findings further indicate that the PG students affiliated to the College of Natural and Computational Science (CNCS) and College of Engineering and Technology (CET) scored higher average (mean) score in ability to evaluate information relative to their counterparts in the other colleges. As a result, First year Postgraduate students have less than moderate information literacy skills and the provision of IL skill training in the university in the very beginning level. This was evidenced by the significant number of students’ lack of knowledge on search strategies. Finally, the study recommends the University’s library system should put in place mandatory information literacy training for first year PG students before the regular course offering starts. Most importantly, the University should also improve the ICT infrastracture, and avail sufficient qualified staff in the area to serve the postgraduate students.