PERCEIVED EASE OF USE AND USEFULNESS AS CORRELATES OF ELECTRONIC DATABASES USAGE BY UNIVERSITY LECTURERS IN SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the perceived ease of use and usefulness as correlates of electronic databases usage by university lecturers in South-west, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to identify the perceived usefulness of electronic databases usage by university lecturers in South-west, Nigeria; and also investigated the perceived ease of use and usefulness of electronic databases by university lecturers in South-west, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive research design of the correlational type. The population comprised 10,452 lecturers in public universities in South-west, Nigeria, out of which a sample size of 836 was selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure across twelve universities. Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the use of electronic databases by university lecturers in South-west, Nigeria enhanced quality of their research (mean= 4.59), enhanced quality of their teaching (mean=4.27), and assisted in writing proposals for research grants (mean=3.97). University lecturers in South-west, Nigeria also had positive perception on the ease of use of electronic databases (mean = 3.47). It was concluded from the study that university lecturers in South-west, Nigeria reflected positive attitude towards the utilization of electronic databases for teaching and research. It was therefore recommended that University libraries should regularly organize training for lecturers on the use of available electronic databases.