Influence of Knowledge Navigation Skills on Online Scholarly Resource Use by Postgraduate Students in Ahmadu Bello University Library, Zaria

Abstract

This study examined the influence of Knowledge Navigation Skills (KNS) on the use of Online Scholarly Resources (OSR) by postgraduate students in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 2,499 postgraduate students, from which a sample size of 346 respondents was determined using the Research Advisors (2006) sample size determination table. Questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection, data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques, including frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviations with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed that postgraduate students predominantly use online scholarly resources for academic and research-related purposes, particularly for research writing, assignments, literature retrieval, and sourcing scholarly materials. Non-academic uses, such as social networking, were minimal. The study also found that postgraduate students use online scholarly resources frequently, with the Internet, online databases, electronic journals, and e-books being the most commonly accessed resources. Furthermore, the results indicated that effective use of online scholarly resources is closely linked to students’ knowledge navigation skills. The study concludes that Knowledge Navigation Skills significantly enhance postgraduate students’ ability to access and utilize online scholarly resources effectively. It therefore recommends that university libraries strengthen practical training in information and knowledge navigation skills and ensure consistent access to relevant digital resources to support postgraduate research and learning.

Keywords: Knowledge Navigation Skills; Online Scholarly Resources; Postgraduate 
Students; Academic Libraries; Ahmadu Bello University