Awareness and Use of Electronic Resources as Predictors of Scholarly Publication Output of Researchers in National Agricultural Research Institutes in Nigeria

Abstract

The study that directed this article examined the extent of awareness of e-resources, their frequency of use and the prediction of scholarly publication output among researchers in National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) in Nigeria. The survey research method of co-relational type was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised researchers in 15 NARIs in Nigeria. Total enumeration was used, and the total population of the identified researchers was 1 089. A questionnaire was the main instrument for the study, and out of 1 089 questionnaires distributed, 868 were returned, giving a return rate of close to 80%. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, which included means, percentage, standard deviation and variance. The findings showed a high awareness of e-resources among researchers. It also confirmed a moderate level of use of e-resources among the researchers. The study found a correlation between awareness and the use of e-resources. Also, from the study, it was discovered that the awareness and use of e-resources determined the scholarly publication output of researchers. Recommendations were made on the findings of the study, namely that library managements within NARIs should endeavour to sustain the awareness of e-resources among researchers through the deployment of new and relevant approaches so that their productivity will not decline.