Demographic Variables as Predictors of First Year Undergraduates’ Use of the Library in the University of Calabar: Counselling Implications

Abstract

This study was situated in the University of Calabar, Nigeria. It sought to determine demographic variables as predictors of first year undergraduates’ use of the library. The outcome of the study is expected to be invaluable to the guidance counsellors and other stakeholders as it should guide them to predict the first year undergraduates’ inclination to library use based on their demographic variables. Such accurate prediction will facilitate the design of appropriate programmes that would aid the first year undergraduates to make the best use of the library and attain academic success. The study was guided by four research questions and three hypotheses tested at .05 level of significance. A researchers’ developed instrument tagged Predictors of Usage Questionnaire (PUQ) was used in gathering data. The data generated was analysed using mean, standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA. The results of the study indicated that extent of use of the library by the first year undergraduates is high. The results also indicated age and area of specialization as predictors of first year undergraduates’ use of the library; while gender is not a predictor of the first year undergraduates’ use of the library. The study therefore outlines the counselling implications of these results and recommends that counsellors should consider these variables while designing interventions to help the students to acquire good reading culture and effective study habits.

Keywords: Demographic variables, predictors, library use, undergraduates, counselling