PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF COMPUTER SELF-EFFICACY ON THE USE OF ONLINE DATABASES AND ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGUE (OPAC) FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH BY POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITIES IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated perceived influence of computer self-efficacy on the use of online databases and Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) for academic research by postgraduate students in universities in Benue State, Nigeria. Two specific objectives with two corresponding research questions guided the study and two hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.5 level significance. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 3821 registered postgraduate students in three university libr aries in Benue State. The sample size was 362 postgraduate students selected using multistag e sampling procedure.The instrument for data collection was self structured questionnaire titl e “Perceived Influence of Computer Self Efficacy on the use of online database and online pu blic access catalogue for academic research by postgraduate students questionnaire (PICSE ODOPACARPSQ). The instrument was validated and its reliability established using Cronbach Alpha method where a coefficient of 0.86 was obtained. Data collected were analy sed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation to answer the research questi ons while ChiSquare Goodness of Fit was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05level of significa nce. Findings of the study revealed that, postgraduate students’ computer selfefficacy influen ces their use of online databases, and oline public access catalogue in universities in Benue State. The study concluded that as postgraduate students' confidence in using computers increases, so does their likelihood of utilizing electronic resources for enhancing their academic research. Based on the findings, recommendations were made that universities in Benue State should design and implement computer training programmes that focus on basic computer skills as well as advanced techniques relevant to access and utilization of online database and online public access catalogue. This is in addition to incorporating digital literacy components into the curriculum so as to ensure that postgraduate students develop the necessary skills and confidence to effectively use electronic information resources.