Acknowledgement Patterns in Information Science Students’ Dissertations in a Nigerian University: Are there Generational Differences?

Abstract

This study investigated generational differences in acknowledgement patterns of Information Science students’ dissertations at  Nigerian’s premier university in the past 30 years. Acknowledgements have become commonplace in thesis and dissertations, however,  with culture shifting and individuals reflecting this in their attitude, such cultural change may likely produce generational differences in  acknowledgement behaviour of different disciplines. A total of 961 Information Science dissertation acknowledgements (DAs) from 1992  to 2021 at the Wilson Olabode Aiyepeku (WOA) library were examined and categorised into two generations – 1st-Gen (1992 – 2006) and  2nd-Gen (2007 – 2021). Data analysis involved descriptives and content analysis of the DAs. Results showed no significant differences in  the number of individuals acknowledged by names but a decrease in the average length of DAs in the second generation. Generational  differences were observed in the number of individuals acknowledged by categories and in the acknowledgement of library/librarians.  Generally, 1st-Gen DAs had the tendency to acknowledge supervisors first, while 2nd-Gen DAs generally acknowledged God first.  Expressions of gratitude in the 1stGen were more informal than among 2nd-Gen DAs. Also, 1st-Gen DAs acknowledged gratitude for  technical, clerical and access types of support than 2nd-Gen DAs while the latter acknowledged moral, financial and spiritual supports  than 1stGen DAs. The study showed a declining tendency by the students to acknowledge library/librarians. It also revealed that students  in this discipline gave less recognition to data sources, as expression of gratitude for data access dropped significantly in the  second generation.