Awareness and Use of Online Academic Databases among Undergraduate Students at the University of Ghana

Abstract

The advancements in technology have necessitated the change in preferences in a number of fields. This is seen in libraries making the conscious effort to subscribe to online academic databases to enable their users can get access to thousands of scholarly and peer reviewed articles. However, due to the cost of subscriptions, equipment and among others, if the users are not making use of them, then it becomes a challenge. Hence, this study investigated the awareness and use of online academic databases among the undergraduate students at the University of Ghana in Accra City Campus. This study is useful to libraries, the student body in academic institutions, policy makers in academic institutions and researchers. The study used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the theoretical framework. The study adopted a case study design which used a quantitative approach with a sample of 256 of the Accra City Campus BA students of the University of Ghana. Stratified and convenience sampling were used and questionnaire was the instrument for data collection and analysed using the SPSS and transferred to MS Excel for graphical representations and frequencies. The study revealed a high awareness and satisfaction of the online academic databases among the students. However, they are rarely used by them and mostly to aid in their academics. They again found it easy to use and access to the online academic databases was mostly through their mobile phones but the major challenge they faced was slow internet and the study as such recommended trainings, subscriptions to more databases, awareness programmes, intensive orientations and addressing the slow internet access to curb the challenges faced.