The age factor in the use of peer-reviewed electronic journals by Zimbabwean academics

South African Journal of Information Management

 
 
Field Value
 
Title The age factor in the use of peer-reviewed electronic journals by Zimbabwean academics
 
Creator Machimbidza, Takawira Mutula, Stephen
 
Subject — academics; peer-reviewed electronic journals; age; awareness; adoption and use; technological skills; Zimbabwean universities.
Description Background: The emergence of peer-reviewed electronic journals on the academic scene at the turn of the century was well received by university libraries in Zimbabwe. They established a consortium to facilitate conveyance of the resources to their patrons. Use of electronic journals by academics, however, has remained minimal almost two decades after their introduction. Efforts by librarians to address this challenge are hampered by lack of context-specific information on how age, among other demographic factors, affects adoption and use of electronic journals by academics. Such information is critical in promoting its use.Objectives: This study examined age differences in the awareness of peer-reviewed electronic journals by academics in Zimbabwean universities, use of electronic journals and possession of technological skills needed to negotiate the electronic journals environment.Method: This study employed a quantitative approach using a survey research design. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to a sample of 363 academics from three universities in Zimbabwe. Data were analysed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences to produce tables.Results: Younger academics were more aware of electronic journals, however, the older academics accessed more articles. Younger academics possessed higher technological skills than older academics.Conclusion: There are age differences among academics with respect to awareness, use and possession of technological skills that librarians must take into account as they promote adoption and use of electronic journals.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor National University of Science and Technology University of KwaZulu-Natal Midlands State University Bindura University of Science Education
Date 2020-08-17
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Survey
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajim.v22i1.1133
 
Source SA Journal of Information Management; Vol 22, No 1 (2020); 8 pages 1560-683X 2078-1865
 
Language eng
 
Relation
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https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/1133/1688 https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/1133/1685 https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/1133/1686 https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/1133/1684
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2020 Takawira Machimbidza, Stephen Mutula https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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