Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Winter 4-3-2021
Abstract
This study aims at establishing the use of smart phones for information seeking by undergraduate students in a Nigerian Specialized University. A descriptive survey design was adopted. Five objectives and five research questions were formulated to guide the study. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select one thousand four hundred and three (1,403) respondents across the two colleges for the study whereas 84% were retrieved. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency, percentage and means. The outcome of the study revealed that apple iOS topped the highest types of smart phone used for information seeking by undergraduate students follow by Google android, blackberry, open WebOS, MeeGo, window phone, Symbian and others. The result also, discovered that factors affecting the use of smart phones for information seeking by undergraduate students include poor battery, high rate of theft on campus, lack of technical experts on repairs when faulty within campus, high cost of data subscription/ Internet access, phone crashes, fragility, poor usage skills, unstable power supply for regular charging, among others. The paper concluded that undergraduates students at all levels should be encouraged to use smartphones for academic works and regular training should be conducted for undergraduate’s students on how to maximize access to information using their smart phones.