Attitude of undergraduate students towards the use of open access journals at the Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examine d the attitude of under graduate students towards the use of open access journals at the Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. Four research questions were raised. The descriptive survey design was employed for this study. The population for the study consists of 500 students randomly selected from three departments namely library and information science, physics, and sociology . The questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Frequency count and simple percentage w ere used to analyze the questionnaire. Major findings emanating from the study revealed that majorit y of the respondents indicated overwhelmingly that they where not aware of open access journals. It was found that the attitude of the students towards the use of open access journal was low. Majority revealed that they don’t like to reference , publish their work and print open access journals articles . Inadequate knowledge of the existing of open access journals in the internet was identified as one of the problems militating against the use o f OAJ by undergraduate students in the selected departments in the Delta State University. The study concludes that Heads of Departments such as the one under study, the library and other stakeholders should intensify efforts in the creation of awareness o f existing open access journals which can be achieved through workshops/conferences

Key Words: Open, Access, Information , Communication , Technology, Journals , University, Abraka, Nigeria.