Role of E-Resources for Research Management in Kenya: A Case of Mount Kenya University

Abstract

E-resources are utilized by the use of information communication technologies to engender knowledge base and promote performance of researchers and scholars. E-resources are embedded with a wealth of information whose exploitation can positively transform research world. Currently, there exists little evidence concerning how various characteristics of research methods are associated with e-resources. This paper seeks to examine the extent to which e-resources have shaped the world of research in academic. It aims to focus on the innovations that Mount Kenya University has undertaken to ensure that researchers are trained on how to access a variety of available e-resources, evaluate the information and apply it to meet their needs. It will also cover on practical steps Mount Kenya University has undertaken in adopting e-resources and recent national studies and effort to standardize the gathering and interpretation of e-resource usage. Snowballing sampling will be used to identify the e-resource users, simple random sampling techniques to select the respondents and questionnaires placed to collect the data. The study targets a sample population of three hundred (300) out of a population of three thousand (3000) e-resource users. The study will reveal that there is hope of increased adoption and usage of e-resources by researchers and research institutions.

Keywords: e-resources, information communication technology, research management, researchers.