Information Searching and Management Literacy Needs Assessment of University Students: Impact of Gender, Education, age and Subject

Abstract

With the growing use of digital information space in tertiary education, computer literacy, information searching and management literacy have become vital academic skills of university students. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether university students need information searching and management guidance and how the gender, level of education, age, and academic subject had any impact on their literacy needs. The data were gathered in the form of a structured questionnaire based on the quantitative survey design. A sample of 155 postgraduate students was selected from the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, and the School of Chemistry at University of the Punjab. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, and Pearson correlation. Results show that students indicated their significant needs in various aspects of information searching and management literacy, especially, information organization, internet-based information searching, and computer literacy. There were weak and positive relations between age and education with literacy needs. The differences in genders were also seen in information literacy needs. The needs in the area of internet and information retrieval were majorly driven by the academic subject, where students of science scored higher for their needs as compared to the social science students. To fulfill needs it is crucial to establish systematic and curriculum-based information literacies programs in the universities. Academic departments and libraries need to work together to develop specific interventions which will close the learning gaps. These programs need not only be technical oriented but also based on critical thinking and ethical handling of information as well as research management practices. By recognizing the unique learning needs of students and fulfilling these needs, institutions can improve their academic performance, foster research and equip students to be productive members of the knowledge society.