Citation Analysis as a Reflection of Information Literacy Competency: Case study of Life Sciences Graduate Student Thesis of the University of Buea, Cameroon.

Type of Presentation

Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)

Target Audience

Higher Education

Location

Room 212

Abstract

Graduate students as potential researchers, rely on their ability to use credible information to advance their pursuit of scientific knowledge. Information literacy is a core activity in any such endeavor and knowing when and why they need information, where to access it and how to use and disseminate the information in an ethical manner forms the basis of this study. Access to current scientific information has been the bane to tertiary institutions in developing countries. However, the University of Buea has been a beneficiary amongst others to the AGORA and HINARI initiatives where databases were offered to the institution since 2001. Has this made any difference to the research process and output? A citation analysis of submitted Master’s thesis in the Life sciences for a 10 year period was conducted to review and see what areas of the information literacy competency standards that were being met. Furthermore interviews were conducted with students immediately after a database demo session as well as with faculty members and select past students to gauge their take on the information literacy skills training program. Result of this study shows a need for more in depth and transdisciplinary collaboration between faculty and librarians as well as the inculcation of more one-shot information literacy classes/ database demo sessions so as to meet the information literacy competency standards. This has implications for curriculum development as well.

Presentation Description

Use of citation analysis of graduate thesis, to determine information literacy competencies in the life sciences in a tertiary institution in a Cameroon, West Africa.

Publication Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

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Sep 25th, 2:45 PM Sep 25th, 4:00 PM

Citation Analysis as a Reflection of Information Literacy Competency: Case study of Life Sciences Graduate Student Thesis of the University of Buea, Cameroon.

Room 212

Graduate students as potential researchers, rely on their ability to use credible information to advance their pursuit of scientific knowledge. Information literacy is a core activity in any such endeavor and knowing when and why they need information, where to access it and how to use and disseminate the information in an ethical manner forms the basis of this study. Access to current scientific information has been the bane to tertiary institutions in developing countries. However, the University of Buea has been a beneficiary amongst others to the AGORA and HINARI initiatives where databases were offered to the institution since 2001. Has this made any difference to the research process and output? A citation analysis of submitted Master’s thesis in the Life sciences for a 10 year period was conducted to review and see what areas of the information literacy competency standards that were being met. Furthermore interviews were conducted with students immediately after a database demo session as well as with faculty members and select past students to gauge their take on the information literacy skills training program. Result of this study shows a need for more in depth and transdisciplinary collaboration between faculty and librarians as well as the inculcation of more one-shot information literacy classes/ database demo sessions so as to meet the information literacy competency standards. This has implications for curriculum development as well.