Predictors affecting personal digital information management activities: A hierarchical regression analysis

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the influence of demographic characteristics, Internet use, computer knowledge and technology self-efficacy on personal digital information management (PIM) activities – information finding, information keeping, information organising and information re-finding. The design of the study was quantitative and a survey method was used to get the objectives of the study. Three independent institutes of art and design – the Institute of Art and Culture, the National College of Arts and Design and the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design – were chosen as the research setting of the study. The population of the study was an academic community of three art and design institutes. The questionnaire was distributed to faculty and students of respective institutes and 229 responses were received after follow-up. The findings of the study indicated that both demographic characteristics and technology-related factors influenced the arts and design academic community’s PIM activities. However, the second set of variables – Internet use, computer knowledge and technology self-efficacy influenced more than demographic variables on PIM activities. Academic role, university and technology self-efficacy appeared significant predictors of all PIM activities. The findings might be helpful for arts and design institutes librarians to make strategies to improve academic community’s personal information management skills. In arts and design institutes, better efficiency in faculty and students’ PIM could be achieved if PIM literacy programmes are designed paying attention to differentials in demographic factors and technology-related factors, as revealed in this study.