Students’ Perception, Attitude and Experience as Factors Influencing Learning of Information Literacy Skills in Public Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

In research and learning, information literacy is a necessary skill for both the students and the researchers to recognise when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.  This study focuses on information literacy within the context of these associated variables perception, attitude and experience. Data were collected through self-constructed questionnaire with Cronbatch’s Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.7812. A spectrum of 3000 students from three universities constituted the sample. Three factors namely perception, attitude, and experience for which mean scores, alpha coefficients and correlations were calculated. One-sample t-test, independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were employed for significance and variance analysis. The study established the fact that students’ perception, students’ attitude and student’ experience are significantly related to information literacy skills. The results of this study should be utilized in providing guidelines for designing the new information literacy skills programme. Students regard information literacy as a valuable skill, and believe that a certain level of information literacy skill should be attained. More work must be done to define what constitutes information literacy skills and universities are advised to embark on programme on information literacy initiatives to fully satisfy their students.

Keywords: Information literacy skill, Students’ perception, Students’ attitude, Students’ experience, Library literacy, Literacy skill