An assessment of information needs and information seeking behaviour of University applicants; the case study of selected universities and high schools in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The study investigated the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of University applicants in the selected Universities and High schools in Tanzanian setting. The study also examined the extent, adequacy and effectiveness of sources universities use to disseminate information to potential university applicants and related constraints. A total sample of 120 respondents, randomly and purposively selected from students and staff of the eight universities and fifteen High schools in Dar es Salaam city participated. An in-depth cross-sectional survey method combined both quantitative and a qualitative technique was used to collect data. Pilot study and multiple tools were used as instrument validation, reliability assurance and data quality control mechanisms, aimed at reducing subjectivity inherent in the collected data as a triangulation strategy. Findings provide an insight that the majority of the university applicants depend mainly on verbal and printed sources, with the Internet and Audio-visual methods becoming increasingly important sources in the communication arena. The Library as an information centre useful to applicants and other users suffers from neglect as few use it. Conclusively, applicants have an information gap and problems in their information ¬seeking process. The existing means that universities prefer to disseminate information to applicants also suffer from 'inadequacy' in terms of availability, accessibility and affordability. Practical suggestions and recommendations have been given in the study for both applicants' information-seeking behaviour and universities on how should effectively disseminate information. This includes Universities launching a nation-wide Academic-Intellectuals Day integrated into existing Annual Universities Exhibitions.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF Z674.4M72)
Keywords
Information needs, Information services, Universities and colleges, Tanzania, Dar es Salaam
Citation
Mtanda, S. M. (2008) An assessment of information needs and information seeking behaviour of University applicants; the case study of selected universities and high schools in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam