The Role of Online Information Resources in Enhancing Scholarly Research and the Challenges of Their Utilization among Library and Information Science Postgraduate Students in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Online information resources are critical to scholarly research, yet their utilization among postgraduate students is often constrained by infrastructural, financial and skill-related barriers, particularly in developing contexts. This study examined the role of online information resources in enhancing scholarly research and the challenges affecting their utilization among Library and Information Science (LIS) postgraduate students in selected universities in South-West Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised all LIS postgraduate students in selected federal, state and private universities in South-West Nigeria, and the entire population of 324 students (114 males and 210 females) was studied. Data were collected using the Online Information Resources for Scholarly Research Questionnaire (OIRSRQ) and an observation checklist. The instruments were face-validated by three experts and pilot-tested, yielding Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.70 to 0.86 and an overall reliability coefficient of 0.89. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, while the hypotheses were tested with independent samples t-tests at the 0.05 level of significance. Online information resources enhanced scholarly research to a high extent, with a cluster mean of 3.39 (SD = 0.70). The major challenges to utilization were slow loading and blockage of websites, improper guidance on the use of online resources, insufficient bandwidth, poor institutional funding attitudes and limited search skills, with a cluster mean of 3.20 (SD = 0.60). The proposed improvement strategies were rated appropriate, with a cluster mean of 3.14 (SD = 0.65). No significant gender difference was found in the perceived role of online information resources (t = -0.388, p = .698) or in the rating of improvement strategies (t = 0.094, p = .925), but a significant gender difference was observed in respect of the challenges to utilization (p = .043). Online information resources are indispensable to scholarly research, but their benefits are constrained by weaknesses in ICT infrastructure and institutional support. The study recommends improved internet connectivity and bandwidth, stable electricity supply, increased funding for electronic resources, expanded database subscriptions, and regular information literacy and digital skills training for postgraduate students.