INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS FOR RESEARCH OUTPUT OF ACADEMIC STAFF IN POLYTECHNICS IN DELTA AND EDO STATE

Abstract

The study investigated information literacy skills as correlates of research output of academic staff in Polytechnics in Delta and Edo States. Correlational and descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study is 3,101 lecturers in the 7 Polytechnics in Delta and Edo states. The study adopted quota-sampling techniques. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools. Hypotheses was tested using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that level of research output of the lecturers was high; the level of information literacy skills of the academic staff was high; the extent to which Polytechnic academic staff information literacy skills affect their research output was high; the extent of scholarly publishing of lecturers was high; and there is significant relationship between information literacy skills and research output of lecturers. The study recommended that young and newly employed academics should be trained to fully acquire the information literacy skills for research output. The Polytechnics administration should endeavor to give research grants and incentives to the lecturers as these will serve as an encouragement towards higher research commitment and improved delivery of academic services. The study established that there is a high correlation between information literacy skills and research output of academic staff in Polytechnics in Delta and Edo states.