INFORMATION NEEDS AND SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA STUDENTS

INFORMATION NEEDS AND SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA STUDENTS

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Information is any fact of set of fact, knowledge news of advice whether communicated by others or obtained by personal study and investigation; any datum that reduce uncertainty about the state of any part of the world;intelligence; knowledge derived by reading,observation or instrument. Uwem (2014)defines information as the data that have been subjected t some processing function and is capable of answering a user’s query. Mabawonku(2012), highlightsin which student can seek for information,which include colleges, the internet, library, friend, family members, recognized institution, agencies and private organizations. Information is therefore the most sorted commodity in this world due to its potential to create wealth. Information on its ownis an aid in decision making and policy making. Information is very useful for every student because it aid an effective teaching and learning process in various disciplines. Information needs varies according to the specific objective being pursued. Information is essential to survival as it provides staffs with new knowledge and to keep abreast of newer discoveries in the society. Information play a vital role in increasing the awareness and In-depth understanding of ideas for teaching and learning in various fields. Information is important and useful because it brings about quest for knowledge and understanding and also helps in making new discoveries

Information needs are on expression of missing information that is required to accomplish a specified task. Information needs is often understood as an individual or group’s desire to locate and obtain information to satisfy a conscious or unconscious need. Hjorland(2010), states that information needs is closely related to the concept of relevance : if something is relevant for a person in relation to a given task, we might say that the person need the information for that task. Information needs are related to, but distinct from information requirement.

Studies on information needs and information- seeking behaviour provide proof for development adequate library and information services for the users (wheeler, 2014). Aneed for information arises when an individual is unable to use the knowledge, he or she possess to solve problems within a specific situation, this gap, triggers a search for new information (Khayesi, 2011). The personal expression force a person to experience information needs imply agap in  aperson’s knowledge that when experience at the conscious level as a question, result to a search for an answer referred to as information seeking behaviours. Information –seeking behaviour is the way in which people express the need for search and the use of information (Eliss, 2013). This is the process which individuals go through while looking for information that responds to the felt needs (ligwersen&jarvelin, 2015).

The inadequacy of academic libraries in trying to understand the users information and seeking behaviour has resulted in designing information system that are not based on predicted needs, leading to user dissatisfaction (Kimbwarata, 2012). For libraries to satisfy the users information needs, they should understand their knowledge gap and the process which users go through while looking for relevant information. This would enable the libraries to design information system and service that adequatelyrespond to the demand of the clients I order to ensure accurate and timely access to relevant information. Continuous information user’s studies are important in identifying exactly how academic libraries can respond tot the user’s information needs and demands. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the information needs and information seeking behaviour of Higher National Diploma (HND) student in the Department of Library and Information Science, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and suggest possible recommendations and improvements

Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa is one of the seventeen (17) Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria. Federal Polytechnic is located in Nasarawa state, which is located at the middle belt of Nigeria, and it shares it borders with Kaduna state, Kogi state, Benue state, Taraba state, Plateau state and the Federal Capital Territory. Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa was established on 1^st July 1983 by the Federal Government of Nigeria to foster technological development in the society. The Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa started out with six (6) schools namely

            S1 – School of Applied science

            S2 – School of Business science

            S3 – School of Continuing Education

            S4 – School of engineering technology

            S5 – School of Environment studies

            S6 – School of General studies which was later changed to School of Information Technology.Library and information science runs her programmes in National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND)Library and Information Science is found in the School of Information technology which has other department such as:

Office technology management (O.T.M)

Computer science and

Mass communication

The total population of students in library and information science’s Higher National Diploma level are 93 in Higher National Diploma II, 176  in Higher National Diploma I (Old) and 257 in Higher National Diploma I (New).

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

            Information is needed by student to enable them to keep abreast of development in their field, and the number of information resources available to student is continually growing and there is a lack of guidance about which information resources to access at the point of care

            It was observed that information need of a particular group of users keep changing along with educational development and acquisition of personnel and professional practices. The Higher National Diploma of Library and Information Science department at Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa was accredited for lecturing as at 2018, and ever since it has been experiencing tremendous development and advance in information technology sector. This has created knowledge gaps resulting in continuous changes in the information needs and seeking behaviour of the student of library and information science in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa. The manner of information seeking could enhance or hinder accessibility of information, which ensures if information needs are satisfied on information need and seeking behaviour of other department in the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa but not Higher National Diploma (HND), a gap this study intends to fill. It is against this background that the researcher has embarked on the study to ascertain the information needs and seeking behaviour of Higher National Diploma (HND), student in the department of library and information science at Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.

1.3       RESEARCH QUESTION

            This study will be guided by the following research questions.

1. What are the information needs of student of Higher National Diploma(HND) of Library and Information science in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa?
2. How do Higher National Diploma(HND) student in Library and Information science department go about seeking information in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa
3. What are the sources consulted by the Higher National Diploma(HND) student of Library and Information science in meeting their information needs?
4. To what extent are the information of student of Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science met using their information seeking behaviour?
5. What are the problems encountered by Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science student while seeking for the needed information?
6. What are the strategies in enhancing information seeking behaviour of the Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science student?

1.4       OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

            The general purpose of this study is to investigate the information needs and seeking behaviour of Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science student in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa state. Specific objective of the study are to

1. Identify the information needs of Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science student in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa
2. Establish the information seeking behaviour of the Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science student in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa
3. Identify the sources consulted by the Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science student in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa
4. Determine the extent the information of Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science student are met using their information seeking behaviour
5. Find out the problems encountered by Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science student while seeking for needed information

6. Determine the strategies for enhancing information seeking behaviour of the Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science student in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa

1.5       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

            It is envisaged that this study would be beneficial to the following group of people;The academic libraries and librarians of institutions of higher learning, the Federal and state Polytechnic, the library management and researchers in related areas. For the higher National Diploma (HND) Library and Information Science students, it will help them to know the latest happening and the recent discoveries. The result of the study will be beneficial to the librarians as it will help them in the acquisition of materials that will meet the needs of its clientele. The finding of this work will also be useful to the Federal and state government as it will enable them to know the need for funding of the academic libraries since information is an important ingredient in today’s social, economic, political and technological development. It will also provide background information for other researchers who may wish to undertake studies in related areas.

Also, the finding of this study will inform the library management about the importance of formulating and implementingpolicies on information services for academic libraries in Nigeria, also the needto provide a customized information services polytechnic students. This means that the information professionals should fully understand the information needs of students in tertiary institution to enable them design information systems or pattern that respond to the needs satisfactorily. The study results, if adopted will be useful in research, and the planning and management of library resources and services in Higher National Diploma (HND), Library and Information science student in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.

1.6       SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

             The focus of the study is to identify the information needs and seeking behaviour of students of Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa. The study investigate information needs, patterns of information seeking and factor that support or hamper access to information. The study will be limited to the Higher National Diploma(HND), Library and Information science students in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa

1.7       DEFINITION OF TERMS

– Information: information is any entity or form that provides the answer to a question of some kind or resolves uncertainty

– Information need: information needs in the value judgement that some group has a problem psychological state associated with uncertainty and the desire to fill a gap in knowledge.