Information Need And Information Seeking Behavior Among Faculty Of Law Lecturers (A Case Study Of University Of Calabar)

Information Need And Information Seeking Behavior Among Faculty Of Law Lecturers (A Case Study Of University Of Calabar)
Abstract
The study investigated the information need and information seeking behavior among faculty of law lecturers (a case study of university of calabar). The study adopted descriptive research design and the population of the study is comprised of 200 lecturers from University of Calabar out of which 120 were randomly selected. Five (5) research questions guided the study and data were collected using structured questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was determined by checking the face and content validity and the instrument proved valid because the items in the instrument are appropriate in terms of subject contents. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics such as frequency count and simple percentage. The findings revealed that majority of the respondent need information 86(72%) for teaching, research and supervision and information on self and professional development 74(62%). On the purposes for seeking information, it was observed that most of the respondents 100(83%) seek information for the purpose of teaching and research and to develop competence 86(72%). It was also noted that most of the academics largely depend on both e-resources and the internet. The internet and the electronic sources are the most important and preferred sources of information used by faculty of law lecturers. The findings discovered that work experience and age significantly influence the information seeking of faculty of law lecturers. Some of the problems encountered when searching information include poor internet connectivity and lack of regular power supply. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the school management should provide adequate internet facilities and improve on electricity supply so that faculty of law lecturers can enjoy more access to the internet while they are in school and especially within the confines of their offices.
Table of Content
- Title Page
- Certification
- Dedication
- Acknowledgement
- Table of Content
- List of Tables
- Abstract
Chapter One:
Introduction
- 1.1 Background of the Study
- 1.2 Statement of the Problem
- 1.3 Objective of the Study
- 1.4 Research Questions
- 1.5 Research Hypothesis
- 1.6 Significance of the Study
- 1.7 Scope of the Study
- 1.8 Limitation of the Study
- 1.9 Definition of Terms
- 1.10 Organisations of the Study
Chapter Two:
Review of Literature
- 2.1 Conceptual Framework
- 2.2 Theoretical Framework
- 2.3 Empirical Review
Chapter Three:
Research Methodology
- 3.1 Research Design
- 3.2 Population of the Study
- 3.3 Sample Size Determination
- 3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
- 3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
- 3.6 Method of Data Collection
- 3.7 Method of Data Analysis
- 3.8 Validity of the Study
- 3.9 Reliability of the Study
- 3.10 Ethical Consideration
Chapter Four:
Data Presentation and Analysis
- 4.1 Data Presentation
- 4.2 Analysis of Data
- 4.3 Answering Research Questions
- 4.4 Test of Hypotheses
Chapter Five:
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
- 5.1 Summary
- 5.2 Conclusion
- 5.3 Recommendation
- References
- APPENDIX
- QUESTIONNAIRE
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Information seeking is as old as man himself and it’s a deliberate search for information in order to find answers to some questions. The world today is witnessing speedy growth of information and this is as a result of the emergence of information technology, with information bearing materials available in different formats. Academic libraries are expected to provide this information to users in the forms of printed and electronic materials in order to serve the changing information needs of all members of the university community, especially the faculty of law lecturers.
Faculty of law lecturers also known as faculty members carry out an essential task in the life of the university as lecturers, advisers, intellectuals and also partake in the academic management of the university. faculty of law lecturers needs a variety of information mainly for teaching, research and self-development. According to Ifijeh, Ogbomo and Ifijeh (2018) faculty of law lecturers need information to develop their professional career, advance research activities, to keep up with the current growth in their fields, and to increase proficiency in their teaching skills, among others. To Aina (2004) faculty of law lecturers are usually interested in subject fields in which they are working or studying. He also stated that their urgent information needs centre around information that will support teaching, research and professional development.
Information plays a significant role in our daily professional and personal lives and we are constantly challenged to take charge of the information that we need for work, fun and everyday decisions and tasks (Bruce, 2005). It deals with behaviour and actions exhibited by human beings in their search for information to satisfy diverse information needs (Abubakar, 2010). Information seeking behaviour therefore is the purposive seeking for information by individuals as a consequence of a need to satisfy goals (Kakai et al., 2004; Wilson, 2008; Mustaffa et al., 2012). The concept of “information behaviour” was coined in the late 1990s, but it traces its roots to the concept of “information needs and uses” that arose in the 1960s (Khan and Shafique, 2011). In the course of seeking, the individual may interact with manual information systems such as a journals or a library, or with computer-based systems such as the World Wide Web (Kari, 2004). Bajpai et al. (2009) enumerates several advantages of e-resources over the print media. These include multi-access, speed, functionality, content, international reach, unlimited capabilities, reduced cost, convenience, searchability and linking.
With the advent of information needs and seeking, different research models for identifying steps involved in this process have been proposed e.g. the standard model, the cognitive model, the dynamic model, search as a sequence of stages, search as a strategic process, and sense making (Hearst, 2009). Jarvelin and Wilson (2003) discussed the functions of conceptual models in scientific research in Information science and research and concluded that some models are of summary type and others more analytic. Such models serve different research purposes.
The summary type involved Starting: the means employed by the user to begin seeking information, for example, asking some knowledgeable colleague; Chaining: following footnotes and citations in known material or ‘forward’ chaining from known items through citation indexes; Browsing: ‘semi-directed or semi- structured searching’; Differentiating: using known differences in information sources as a way of filtering the amount of information obtained; Monitoring: keeping up- to-date or current awareness searching; Extracting: selectively identifying relevant material in an information source; Verifying: checking the accuracy of information; and Ending: which may be defined as ‘tying up loose ends’ through a final search. Seeking information by the analytics method involved the following classifications; task complexity, task categorization, and types of information needed in tasks (Jarvelin and Wilson, 2003).
Shokeen and Kushik (2002) studied information seeking behaviour of social scientists working in the universities located in Haryana. They reported most of the social scientists visit the library daily. The first preferred method of searching the required information by the social scientists followed by searching through indexing and abstracting periodicals, and citations in articles respectively. The social scientists use current journals followed by books. Cothey (2002) examined the information seeking behaviour of 206 college students using the World Wide Web during a 10-month period as a means to suggesting how the general population uses the web. It was concluded that World Wide Web users have become more passive and more eclectic as they become more experienced using the Web. It was also discovered that they use less querying techniques; however their Web usage was more sporadic, which might suggest greater selectivity.
Information seeking behaviour of scholars has been the focus of inquiry within the library and information science community for decades (Meho and Tibbo, 2003). Understanding the information-seeking behaviour of educators has great significance not only to libraries, which spend considerable funds purchasing and finding tools for literature search, but also to publishers, who invest in technology to make their electronic journals available. Research into information seeking behaviours had been previously undertaken for reasons of improving collection development.
Information seekers encounter various challenges. A study by Tahir et al. (2008) identified seventeen possible problems teachers face in acquiring information for teaching and research. Respondents were asked to rank these problems using a five-point Likert scale. “Required material is not available” was ranked as the number one problem with a mean of 3.17, followed by “information is scattered in too many sources” and “information sources are very expensive” with mean scores of 3.60 and 3.47 respectively. Other challenges on the list were information sources located far away, lack of time, lack of training in information literacy skills, lack of knowledge in using the library, language barrier and incompetent or not well trained library staff.
Faculties in educational institutions contribute to the attainment of the broad objectives of the university which is teaching, research, and community service. The faculties provide academic guidance to students and extend the frontiers of knowledge through research and publication.
Wilson (2000) stated that information needs are determined by a number of factors such as the types of information sources available, purposes of the information, the background, motivation, professional orientation and individual characteristics of the user. There must be a need that would provoke an individual to engage in information seeking. Information need is that inborn desire that stimulate a person which will lead him/her to search for information. faculty of law lecturers have a lot of information needs which provoked their demand for information.
When lecturers are searching for information to meet their needs, they use different sources of information. Information sources are the resources where information, to meet a specific need can be found. According to Garbado (2018) faculty of law lecturers preferred to seek information from printed sources (textbooks/journals) and electronic sources (eBooks/e-Journals or e-Databases). Omah and Urhiewhu (2019) stated that the internet is one of the most important sources of information regularly used by faculty of law lecturers to get information. Laila and Mumtaz (2010) confirmed that faculty staff, especially at the professorial level, mainly relies on books, journals, conference reports, television, radio, friends, subject experts and colleagues to meet their information needs. Other sources of information include theses/dissertations, reference materials, newspapers, online databases and most recently the internet.
Information seeking behaviour is the manner in which information users behaves when searching for information (Uhegbu, 2007). It is a process which faculty of law lecturers intentionally engages in, in order to transform their state of knowledge. This may be as a result of the need to complete their lecture plans, write their scholarly articles, prepare for seminars, workshops, conferences etc. Oketunji (2000) and Afolabi (2003) in their studies observed that, information seeking behavior of people vary according to their age, gender, occupation, location, education, exposure, enlightenment, religion and even their culture. It can also be influenced by the sources of the information, content, medium and language of presentation, time and nature of information. The information seeking behaviour of lecturers are usually expressed in various methods, through the reading of electronic sources, consulting knowledgeable persons in their field and preference to the use of periodicals in their university libraries (Akinola, 2009). They also follow the patterns already established by their peers, relying upon mentors in their fields to guide them in their professional development.
While seeking information, faculty of law lecturers may interact with manual information systems (such as a newspapers or a library) or with computer based information systems such as the internet. The information seeking behaviour of faculty of law lecturers in this information age has changed because the internet provides quick and easy access to numerous and useful information resources available for teaching, research and study purposes (Khan, 2017). In all of this, the library can still play a vital role to understand the staff information behaviour and set-up academic collection, databases, e-resources and enhance services to accurately meet the information search of faculty of law lecturers (Devi & Dlamini, 2013).
The rapid growth of information and its accessibility in different channels and formats have lead to the problem of retrieving and dissemination of information. Thilagavathi and Thirunavukkarasu (2015) revealed that proliferation of information, low internet speed and lack of support from library staff are the problems faced by the faculty members while seeking information. According to Peris and Otike (2016) stated that faculty of law lecturers are confronted with a lot of challenges while seeking for information such as; irregular power supply, difficulty in locating desired information resources, lack of awareness, supposed lack of relevance of the resources, the skills to use e-resources, etc.
Staff information needs is vital because they contribute in achieving the objectives of the university which is teaching, research, and community service. So a study of the information seeking behaviour of faculty members in Nigerian universities would help academic librarians to see how they can enhance information services in order to ensure maximum satisfaction of their users. This study is therefore aimed at determining the information needs and seeking behaviour of faculty members, to determine the sources and channels through which faculty members seek information. Furthermore, the study examined the influence of demographic factors on information seeking of faculty of law lecturers, identifies the challenges they face while searching for information and proffer possible solutions to these challenges.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Lecturers needs constant information in order to perform their essential services which are teaching, research and community service. It is, therefore essential for the lecturers to always keep themselves well informed with current materials and publications that would enhance their academic activities. Overflowing of information and its accessibility in different channels and formats has lead to the problem of retrieving and dissemination of information by faculty of law lecturers. Thilagavathi and Thirunavukkarasu (2015) findings of a study shows that proliferation of information, low internet speed and lack of support from library staff are the problems faced by the faculty members while seeking information. Other factors which also affect information behaviour of lecturers include age, gender, educational level and skills to use the information sources. As a result, there are great concerns of how the information seeking behavior of faculty of law lecturers in Nigerian universities is being affected by the advancing information revolution, especially on how it relates to access and retrieval capabilities. It’s therefore in this regard that this study investigates the information need and information seeking behavior among faculty of law lecturers using University of Calabar as case study.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is to investigate the information need and information seeking behavior among faculty of law lecturers using University of Calabar as case study.
The specific objectives are:
- To ascertain the information needs of faculty of law lecturers and purposes for which seek information
- To determine the sources through which faculty members seek information
- To find out the most preferred sources of seeking information
- To examine the influence of demographic factors on information seeking of faculty of law lecturers
- To identify the challenges faced by faculty of law lecturers while searching for information
1.4 Research Questions
The following questions guide the study:
- What are the information needs of faculty of law lecturers and for which purposes do they seek information?
- What are the sources through which faculty members seek information?
- What are the most preferred sources of seeking information?
- What is the influence of demographic factors on the information seeking behaviour of faculty of law lecturers?
- What are the challenges faced by faculty of law lecturers while seeking information?
1.5 Statement Of Hypothesis
- H0: The level of information available to faculty of law lecturers is low
- H1: The level of information available to faculty of law lecturers is high
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study is meant to extend the frontiers of human knowledge and solve most of the problems encountered in public libraries when dealing with lecturers information needs and information seeking behaviour. It would also be of great significance to staff of public and school/children libraries. Also to be director. Of public libraries as it would support plans for library development and input to improving services rendered to children. This study would serve as literature/reference material, for researchers in future and input to the literature available in this area of study.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study is focused on the information need and information seeking behavior among faculty of law lecturers in University of calabar. The study is limited to some law lecturers in the school. Hence, the respondents for this study will be obtained from and among faculty of law lecturers in University of Calabar.
1.8 Limitation of the Study
In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. However, the researcher were able to manage these just to ensure the success of this study.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Information:
The online dictionary of library and information science defined information as data presented in readily comprehensible form to which meaning has been attributed within the context of its use information knowledge.
Information Needs:
In 1967 information need was defined as an expression of the deficit of concreta information by an individual (collective or territorial) user solving a certain scientific or technical problem; it is said to be a necessity to acquire information about (or from) the surendity environment. Or any information a user ought to have whether the need is felt or not.
Information Seeking Behaviour:
This is defined as patterns or paths pursued by an individual seeker or group of information seeker to solve or resolve an information need. Also Wilson (1999) defines it as those activities a person may engage in when identifying their own needs for information, searching for such information in any way, and using or transferring that information.
1.10 Organization of the Study
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows.
- Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
- Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.
- Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
- Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
- Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.
Chapter Five
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.0 Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings on the information need and information seeking behavior among faculty of law lecturers using a case study of university of calabar. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
5.1 Summary
Majority of the respondent’s information needs centered around teaching, research and supervision and information on self and professional development. This is not in conformity with the findings of Okonoko et al. (2015) who found that faculty of law lecturers major information need is teaching and research. On the purposes for seeking information, it was discovered that most of the respondents seek information for the purpose of teaching and research and to develop competence. This finding is in agreement with that of Thilagavathi and Thirunavukkarasu (2015). Most of the faculty of law lecturers always use e-resources followed by the internet. This is not in agreement with the findings of Ahiauzu and Okon (2015) who found that internet was the most frequently used information source by faculty of law lecturers. Majority of the faculty of law lecturers agrees that the internet is the most preferred source of information followed by e-resources. Most of the respondents agree that work experience and age of faculty of law lecturers significantly influence the information seeking of faculty of law lecturers. This is in agreement with the study of Garbado (2018) who also found work experience and age of academic significantly affects the information seeking of faculty of law lecturers. Majority of the respondents indicated that poor internet connection and lack of constant power supply were the two major challenges faculty of law lecturers face while seeking information. This is in conformity with the findings of Okonoko, Emeka-Ukwu and Ayomanor (2015).
5.2 Conclusion
The study investigated the information seeking behaviour among faculty of law lecturers. This study found that teaching, research and supervision and information on self and professional development are the major information needs of faculty of law lecturers. It was also discovered that most of the academics largely depend on both printed and electronic resources. The internet and the electronic sources are the most important and preferred sources of information used by faculty of law lecturers. Some of the problems encountered when searching information include poor internet connectivity and lack of regular power supply.
5.3 Recommendation
The researchers wish to recommend that the school management should provide adequate internet facilities and improve on electricity supply so that faculty of law lecturers can enjoy more access to the internet while they are in school and especially within the confines of their offices.

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