Availability Of Information Resources For Research Output: Perception Of Academic Staff Members In Nigerian Federal Universities

Abstract

The volume of information resources potentially available in the globe is massive; hence it becomes necessary to examine available information resources for academics research activity in the academia. This study, therefore, examined the perception of academics on availability of information resources for research productivity in federal universities in Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The Multistage sampling technique was used to select 1,057 academic staff members from twelve federal universities in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The categories of academic staff covered in the study were from professorial cadre to graduate assistant. The instruments used for data collection were: Availability of Information Resources (r= 0.69) and Research Productivity of Academics (r=0.91). Eight hundred and seventy-three copies of the questionnaire were used for analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. There was no significant relationship between availability of information resources and academics research productivity. The mean score of information resources availability was adequate in Nigerian federal universities libraries ( =2.41; SD = 0.90) which means that information resources were readily available to academics for research productivity. To further sustain academic staff research productivity, librarians should organize continuous awareness program on availability of information resources to increase research productivity of academics