Information Seeking Behaviour of Final Year Law Students in South Western Nigerian Universities.

Abstract

This study investigates the information seeking behaviour of final year law students in Nigeria.  A structured questionnaire and interview methods were used for data gathering in 7 Nigerian Universities.  The questionnaire data was analysed using frequency distribution, measure of central tendency and dispersion; and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel as software.  The interview was transcribed and arranged into themes for proper analysis. The research findings show that the respondents use print textbooks and Google as major research resources, Academic Law Libraries and Search engines as major research locations while newspaper vendors and public libraries are used as locations for research on newspapers. They were found to possess computer skills and lack information skills. Money, MTN (a major telecommunication provider in Nigeria), Library and Information Services (LIS), Law faculty dress code and Nigerian respect views for elders were found as factors to information seeking behaviour of the respondents. This study concluded by presenting new findings to information seeking behaviour (ISB) amongst Nigerian law students. This research proffers recommendation for Nigerian Law Faculties and Law Libraries on the way forward.

Keywords: Information seeking behaviour, Nigerian final year law students, Law students in South Western Nigerian Universities, Nigerian Law students and Information literacy skills.