TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page                                                                                              i
Approval Page                                                                                               ii
Certification                                                                                                     iii
Dedication                                                                                                 iv
Acknowledgements                                                                                         v
Table of contents                                                                                           vi
List of Tables                                                                                           x
Abstract                                                                                                           xii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTIONÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1
Background of the Study 3
Statement of the Problem                                                                        4
Purpose of the Study                                                                        5
Research Questions                                                                                6
Hypotheses                                                                                                6
Significance of the Study                                                                      8
Scope of the Study                                                                                      8
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
Conceptual Framework
Concept and Importance of University Library                                9
Concept of ICT-based library resources                                                 11
Concept of Utilization and PG Research                                                  14
Problems of Utilization of ICT-based Library Resources                        27
Strategies for Enhancing the Utilization of ICT Library Resources       35
   Theoretical Framework                                                                                38
Operant Conditioning Theory by B.F. Skinner                                       39
Errant and Holes Theory of Collaboration                                                39
Drive –Reduction Theory by Hull                                                            40
Diffusion of Innovation Theory
   Related Empirical Studies                                                                 40
   Summary of Literature Review                                                              43
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD
Design of the Study                                                                        45
Area of the Study
Population of Study                                                                       46
Sample and Sampling Techniques                                                      47
Instrument of Data Collection                                                       47
Validation for the Instrument                                                              48
Method of Data Collection 49
Method of Data Analysis 49
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 50
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 67
Discussion of Findings:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 67
Implication of Findings                                                                         71
Recommendations                                                                                 72
Limitations of the Study                                                                          73
Conclusion 74
Suggestions for Further Research                                                          75
REFERENCESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 76
APPENDICESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 83
LIST OF TABLE
Table                                                                                                                Page
1.        Distribution and Return by Universities and Faculties                       53
2.        Availability of ICT-Based Library Resources                                            54
3. Level of Availability of ICT-Based Library Resources for Research Purposes                                                                     55
4. Extent of Utilization of ICT-Based Library Resources in Postgraduate Research                                                                                                                 57
5.        Mean and Standard deviation of the Respondents’ Rating on the Influences of University (Federal, State, and Private) Status on Utilization of ICT-Based
Library Resources for Postgraduate Research                         59
6.        Means and Standard Deviation of Respondents Rating According to Area of Study (Faculties of Education, Social Sciences, and Arts) on Extent of Utilization of ICT-Based Library Resources in Postgraduate Research     64
7.        Mean and Standard Deviation of Respondents Ratings on the Problems  Encountered in Utilization of ICT-Based Resources in Postgraduate Research                                                                             69
8.        Mean and Standard deviation of Respondents Rating on Ways to Enhance Utilization of ICT-Based Resources.                                        70
9. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the mean difference in ratings of Postgraduate Students from Federal, State and Private Universities  71
10.      Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the Mean Difference in Rating of Postgraduate Students from Various Faculties (Education, Social Science, Arts) on the Extent of Utilization of ICT-Based Resources                   72
11. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the Mean Difference in Ratings of Postgraduate Researchers of Universities (Federal, State and Private) and Faculties (Education, Social Sciences, and Arts) on the problems that Hinder ICT Utilization in Research 73
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate the ICT-based library resources in Nigerian universities. This is with the aim of investigating the extent of utilization of ICT-based library resources for postgraduate research in Nigerian Universities (federal, state, and private). Six objectives and six research questions guided the study. A sampling technique was used in carrying out the work. A total number of five hundred and ten (510) respondents were used for the study. The instruments for data collection were questionnaire and observation checklist. Five hundred and ten (510) copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the postgraduate researchers in the three universities in the South East Nigeria and three hundred and sixty-six (366) were returned representing 72% return rate. The following statistical measures were employed for the data analysis: frequency table, mean (X) and Standard deviation (SD). The findings revealed that there was a significant difference in the mean ratings of postgraduate students in Federal, State and Private universities on the utilization of ICT-based library resources for research. However, the researcher observed that faculty of Education postgraduate researchers were predominant users of ICT-based library resources. The findings also revealed that postgraduate student’s lack of fund, high cost of internet use, incompetence of library staff, lack of access to ICT resources, lack of ICT skills by users and lack of awareness of ICT-based library resources are some of the challenges affecting the use of ICT-based library resources. Based on the findings, it was recommended that university libraries should make the cost of ICT-based library resources affordable; update the skills of librarians on ICT-based resources; educate the postgraduate research students on the use of ICT-based library resources and make university websites freely available to the postgraduate student researchers.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a merger of computing and telecommunication technologies for information acquisition, storage, retrieval, and dissemination (Alhassan, and Afolabi, 2013). ICT has become a global tool often used by individuals, organizations, governments and intergovernmental organizations for personal or official activities. Its application cuts across all fields of human endeavour like medicine, commerce, engineering, architecture, education, library services, and agriculture. According to Aina (2004), Information Technology (IT) is an omnibus term that combines computer and telecommunication technology, hence it is sometimes called Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It is concerned with the technology used in handling, acquiring, processing, storing, and disseminating information.
The computer is useful for processing information while the telecommunication facilities provide means for information communication or transfer using networks. However, for computers to be able to communicate with one another there has to be a network which provides a link, and when this link is across the globe, an international network called the internet results. The internet is a connection of millions of computers all over the world by networks (Ogbomo, 2004, Ibegwam, 2002). The availability of the internet as a major component of ICT has improved access to information by information users tremendously.
Libraries are established on university campuses to serve primarily the students and staff of that university and other institutions. The main function of university libraries is to provide educational and information resources and research support for students and staff of the institution. Some university libraries are accessible to members of the general public as a whole. In the university, the library plays a major role in making the university achieve its objectives of teaching, research, and community service through the provision of information resources for undergraduate instruction as well as postgraduate research needs (Ifidon, 1999). The library is a key player in education, research, and information provision; it has thus been in the forefront in ICT application to its services. Libraries are repositories of information in whatever format it may appear. A library is primarily set up to acquire, organize, store and make accessible to users within the quickest possible time all forms of information materials which they require (Nwalo,2003). Libraries use ICT for information acquisition, processing, and provision to library users. Madu and Adeniran (2005) summarizes the values of ICT to libraries and library users to include better access to information, encouraging active library co-operation, encouraging resource sharing, efficient and effective delivery of service and providing access to international databases.
ICT is a convenient tool for research activities. According to Ifidon and Ifidon (2007), research is man’s systematic and empirical investigation into existing but hidden elements in nature with a view to unearthing, understanding, and explaining such elements for the purpose of development. Specifically, it is a human activity whereby answers are sought, with as great an approximation of truth and accuracy as human knowledge makes possible, to basic or fundamental questions concerning the phenomena of the universe (Alhassan, and Afolabi, 2013). This perception of research cuts across all fields of human pursuit like education, arts, social sciences, medicine, engineering, and agriculture.
In the university system, there are specialists (postgraduate) in these various subject areas who are involved in teaching, research and community service. Researches in the various fields of science education, arts and social sciences are imperative for the development of any nation and the world in general in view of the strategic importance of education to man and its contribution to the economy of many nations.
However, it is worrisome to note that Nigerian universities are lowly rated in terms of research within Africa and the world over ) ). This fact is evident in various authentic world rankings of universities. One then begins to wonder where the problem lies, if the university libraries in Nigeria are no longer functioning to provide the needed support for postgraduate students to improve their research, or if ICT facilities are not sufficiently used to further research activities as is the case in other countries. It is against this backdrop that this study examines the extent of utilization of ICT for postgraduate research in Nigerian federal, state and private universities. It specifically examines the types of ICT facilities used, the extent of utilization and constraints on their utilization.
