Media Literacy Skills and Information Behaviour of Undergraduates in Nigerian Universities

Abstract

Media Literacy Skills (MLS) has the potential to influence every aspect of students’ academic goals and their Information Behaviour (IB). Thus, this study examined Media Literacy Skills (MLS) and Information Behaviour (IB) of undergraduates in two Nigerian universities in Delta State (Delta State University- DELSU and Michael Cecilia Ibru University - MCIU). The descriptive survey design of the correlational type was adopted. The population consisted of 22, 213 undergraduates: (DELSU - 22,125, MCIU - 88) and a two-stage random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of 340. Data was collected with the use of structured questionnaire with reliability coefficient (MLS: α=.90; IB:α=.87). Data was analysed with frequency counts, mean, standard deviation and Pearsons Product Moment Correlation. The results revealed high MLS in DELSU (x ̅=49.05) and MCIU (x ̅=51.27). Information to pass examination was mostly needed by the undergraduates (DELSU x ̅=3.63, MCIU x ̅=3.45.) and sought for information from the Internet (DELSU:( x) ̅=3.57; MCI:x ̅=3.36). A significant positive relationship existed between MLS and IB in DELSU (r=.588**; df =303; p< 0.01) and MCIU (r = .824**; df =10; p< 0.05). Media literacy skills is relevant to the information behavior of undergraduates in searching, retrieving and using information resources appropriately. The librarians, therefore, should liaise with the lecturers to organise regular MLS training programmes.