An evaluation of use by scientists of communication media in tree crops research information transfer in Nigeria: a case study of CRIN

Abstract

The role of information in human endeavour cannot be over emphasized. Hence, information and its medium of communication are crucial to human existence. The perception of scientists on the media of information transfer on tree crops research in Nigeria with particular reference to cocoa, kola, coffee, cashew and tea was evaluated with CRIN as a case study. Analysis showed that scientists believed that Internet was next to seminars, conferences and workshops as a channel for prompt sharing of research findings while documentation channel was least effective. The findings revealed that scientists had high level of computer literacy and this could aid the adoption of electronic library for tree crops research. However, the use of Internet is not within the reach of the scientists because of inadequate infrastructure and poor funding of research Institutes' information centers. Hence, it was suggested that appropriate infrastructure that will aid the use of Electronic Library (E-library) be put in place in the research Institutes.

The Information Technologist Vol. 2(2) 2005: 45-55