CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS OF STUDENT GROUPS DURING COLLECTIVE INFORMATION SEEKING IN RURAL HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS

Sefu H. Abeid

Abstract


This study aims to investigate the barriers student groups encountered during the collective information seeking (CIS) process in rural higher learning institutions (RHLI) in Tanzania. The Karunakaran, Spence, and Reddy's (2013) model anchored to conduct this study. The population of the study comprised of selected RHLI students in Tanzania’s rural settings. The purposive sampling technique used to select the study participants. 72 RHLI students were selected for the study; 18 RHLI students for interview, 18 RHLI students for Observation and 36 RHLI students for focus group discussion (FGD). This study used convenience sampling to select RHLI students for inclusion in focus group discussions and interview. The data for the study were collected through the use of observation, interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). Qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis. Thematic analysis helped to develop different themes relating to the specific objectives of this study. The population of the study comprised RHLI final-year students in Tanzania’s rural districts. Final- year students from three (3) RHLI amount to 259. Based on the interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) results, RHLI respondents provided suggestions on how faced challenges during CIS process could be tackled. The major challenges were identified as: absence of training among RHLI respondents on how to evaluate massive retrieved information on the internet, unreliable internet in rural RHLI institutions, low IL skills among RHLI student groups, few ICT equipment in rural RHLI institutions, absence of information on protective gears and working tools in RHLI courses, absence of information on reference professional items, absence of a policy or framework that guides RHLI student groups during CIS and absence of subjects librarians who were required to assist RHLI student groups during CIS.

 

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Keywords


collective information seeking, challenges encountered by student groups, solutions during collective information seeking, rural higher learning institutions in Tanzania.

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejoe.v10i4.6499

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