Electronic support and research productivity: the case of academic engineers and scientists (original) (raw)

Use of Electronic Resources among Academics at the University of Karachi

A sample of seventy faculty from the University of Karachi Faculty of Arts were surveyed. The study explores the University of Karachi's facilities for using electronic resources. Some departments have fully-equipped computer labs, while some have a few computers. A few departments also provide computers to individual academics in their offices. An Internet connection is available to 92.9 percent of the departments. A majority of the academics have computer skills that facilitate the use of electronic resources, although a majority have little knowledge of electronic resources, which is not a positive aspect of the findings. Most use both electronic and printed resources, or only printed sources. Electronic resources are used for research and for preparation of lectures. Lack of knowledge and lack of facilities are the main reasons for not using electronic resources. Nearly all respondents are satisfied or quite satisfied with available resources.

Research productivity in the internet era

Scientometrics, 2006

The present study investigated the relationship between the use of different internet applications and research productivity, controlling for other influences on the latter. The control variables included dummies for country, discipline, gender and type of organization of the respondent; as ...

A Comparative Analysis on the effect to the Research Productivity: A Manual System versus ICT Use without Training

This paper is based on a comparative analysis of a manual system versus ICT use without training and its effect on research productivity. The aim of this study was achieved by comparing models. This study was experimental based and the target population was taken from a university. Collected data was analyzed using the WarpPLS 4.0 software. The results of the study show that SPSS, Turnitin and NVivo for data analysis have high significance values on the research productivity than a manual system. On the other hand, AMOS, EndNote and NVivo for literature review have higher significance on the research productivity than ICT use without training.

Use of Electronic Information Resources and Research Output by Academic Staff in Private Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria

Canadian Social …, 2012

The study examined the use of electronic information resources and research output by academic staff in private universities in Ogun state, Nigeria. Three private universities were selected out of the nine private universities in Ogun state. These universities are Crescent University, Abeokuta, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, and Redeemers’ University, Mowe, all in Ogun State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling method was used to investigate respondents. The instrument used for data collection was structured questionnaire. 225 copies of the questionnaire were administered at Babcock University and 144 were retrieved. 88 at Crescent University and 80 were retrieved, while 215 at the Redeemers’ University and 130 were retrieved. The research looked at the extent with which electronic information resources were used in the private universities in Ogun State, using the three universities as sample. A total of 528 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the respondents at the three universities and a valid number of 354 (66%) questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed. The questionnaire was designed using nominal and likert scales. The study revealed that most of the academic staff from the three private universities knew and used electronic information resources for their research work as shown on Tables 5, 6, 7 and 8. Findings from Tables 8 and 9 indicate that most of respondents from the three private universities have published their articles and presented papers with the use of electronic information resources. The study also revealed on Table 6 that effective use of electronic information resources contribute to the academics’ research output hence 329 (92.9%) of the total respondents supported that view. It is imperative to state here that lack of personal computer and erratic power supply among others are major constraints that inhibit use of electronic information resources in the three private universities which invariably affects their research output. The researchers recommended that private universities in Nigeria expedite action in the area of improving access to electronic information resources through provision of subsidized computers and improved electricity supply in their various universities. Moreso, academic staff are advised to acquire computer skills, learn and relearn to navigate and utilize the vast available electronic information resources on the internet to achieve better research output. Key words: Electronic information resources; Research output; Academics; Information access; Information skill; ICT; Electronic journal; Private university; Ogun state

A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Electronic Information Resources Use Towards Research Productivity of Academic Staff in Nigerian Universities

The study empirically and comparatively examined academic staff use of electronic information resources (EIRs) in relation to research productivity in six universities in Lagos and Ogun states of South west Nigeria. By ownership type, the universities include: federal (University of Lagos, Akoka and Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta); state (Lagos State University, Ojo and Tai-Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode) as well as private (Pan-African University, Ajah; Covenant University, Ota). The survey design of correlational type was adopted alongside multi-stage random sampling technique to select 334 academic staff based on 10% sample frame. The questionnaire method was employed to elicit data from the respondents. Of the 334 copies of the questionnaires administered, 298(89.2%) were completed and retuned. The instrument was structured based on 4-point Likert scale. Inferential statistics was used to analyze the three research questions that guided the study. The study revealed among other things that EIRs guarantees up to-datedness of information thus, becoming the greatest motivation for which Academic staff use them for research. However, awareness of available EIRs and requisite skills for usage is poor. As a result, the study recommended that management of federal and state universities subscribe to online databases centered on the subject needs of their institutions and thereafter, make concerted effort towards educating academic staff for maximum exploitation of them. Keywords: Electronic Information Resources (EIRs), Use of EIRs, Academic Staff, Research productivity, Universities.

Electronic Resources as a Panacea for Research Output of Academic Staff: A Case Study of Nigerian University

This paper examines electronic resources as a means of improving research output of academic staff in Nigerian university. Survey method was adopted in conducting the research. Structured questionnaire were employed to obtain data from 105 respondents who returned questionnaire selected for the study. The data obtained were analyzed using simple percentages. Findings of the study revealed that majority of academic staff were able to access e-resources at their offices/Laboratory, Off campus and University library, academic staff frequently make use of e-resources for their research interest and also agreed that e-resources contributed to their research output. Part of the recommendations includes Nigerian university through their libraries should subscribe for more e-resources and databases that covers all courses ran by the university and ensure constant electricity supply in the campus.

E – INFORMATION USAGE AMONG THE SCHOLARS OF SCIENCE IN PERIYAR UNIVERSITY: AN EVALUATIVE STUDY

This paper tries to focus the use of E – Information by scholars of science in Periyar University, Salem. The study examined the types of information resources used by the research scholars, frequency of use, purpose of use of e- resources, research scholars’ preference of sources, changes in the research work, level of satisfaction in e- resources and barriers faced by the research scholars while accessing the same.

ICT use as determinant of research productivity of academic staff of federal universities in North-East, Nigeria

Journal of Library Services and Technologies

This study investigated influence of information and communication technology (ICT) use on research productivity of academic staff of federal universities in Northeastern Nigeria. A survey design was adopted in carrying out the study. The population for this study comprised of 4258 academic staff of six (6) federal universities in North-eastern, Nigeria, from which a sample of 366 was drawn using Taro Yamane sampling formula and used for the study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the sample for the study. Simple random sampling was used to select three (3) out of the six federal universities so as to have a manageable sample simple size these includes; Abubakar Tafawabalewa University Bauchi, University of Maiduguri and Federal University Wukari. Thereafter, stratified sampling method was used to select four faculties common to all the universities, namely faculty of Education, Science, Agriculture and Social science. The data collected were analysed using percenta...

Perceived Effect of Accessibility and Utilization of Electronic Resources on Productivity of Academic Staff in Selected Nigerian Universities

Access to information is vital for efficient research at universities. Electronic resources provide new platforms for information to aid in conducting research at universities. This study explores the perceived effect of accessibility and utilization of electronic resources on research productivity at Nigerian universities. A quantitative research approach was adopted for the study with a survey as research method. Data were collected for the study with a self-reporting questionnaire. Regression analysis in the study revealed that accessibility and use of electronic resources had a significant perceived positive effect on research productivity at the surveyed Nigerian universities. However, there was no significant perceived effect of accessibility and use of electronic resources by discipline on research productivity in the survey. In terms of gender, it was found that there was no significant perceived effect of accessibility and use of electronic resources by gender on research productivity among respondents at the surveyed Nigerian universities. Based on these findings, it is recommended that effective development of digital libraries in Nigerian universities would ameliorate the problems of accessibility and utilization of electronic resources by academic staff in research. Furthermore, the Nigerian university libraries should develop an electronic collection development policy to enhance equitable access and use of electronic resources at Nigerian universities. Policy for sustainable digitization of relevant library materials should be evolved to support digital libraries effectively for efficient accessibility and utilization of electronic resources.

Use of E-Resources: Opinion about the Growth of Academic Development among the Engineering College faculty members in Tamilnadu, India

2020

This study has made an attempt to analysis the engineering college faculty members use of electronic resources and its impact of academic growth in Namakkal district in Tamilnadu. Based on the aim, survey method is applied and standard, structured and pretested questionnaire as a tool of this study. Percentage analysis, one-way ANOVA and post-host statistical tools are used for data analysis. Pie and bar charts also used for data representation. 1070 fully filled questionnaires received from the respondents. Among the total sample, 618(57.767) respondents are male and 425(42.243) respondents are female faculties who participated in this research. According to the designation of the respondents, 470(43.925), 331(30.935) and 269(25.140) are assistant professors, associate professors and professors. Based on the experience, 342(31.963) of them have 0-5 years of experience in teaching in engineering colleges, 299(27.944) of them have 6-10 years of experience, 159(14.860) percent of them have 11-15 years, 140(13.084) of them have 16-20 years of experience and the remaining 130(12.150) of them have 21 years and above teaching experience in engineering colleges. Statistical significant difference is observed between the gender, experience and designation of the faculty members' frequency of accessing online journals. There is a statistical significant difference in the opinion about the usefulness of the e-journal of the faculty members' designation. Significant difference is observed between the gender of the respondents and their opinion about the increase of research publication while using the electronic information sources. Highly significant is observed between the educational qualifications of the respondents and their opinion about the increase of research publication by using the e-journals. There is a statistical significant difference in the designation of the faculties and their opinion about the increase of research publication by using Electronic Journals.