Influence of emotion on web information searching and retrieval among academic staff and students in Nigerian universities

Abstract

This study investigated the Emotional Influence on Web Information Searching and Retrieval among Academic Staff and Students in Nigerian Universities. The study adopted a survey research design and copies of questionnaire were used as instrument for data collection. The subjects were made up of the academic staff and students in Ahmadu Bello Universities Zaria, University of Nigeria Nsukka, and University of Ibadan. However, 384 academic staff and students were selected for the sample. To achieve the objective of the study, one research question was raised and answered, hypothesis was formulated and tested. Descriptive (Percentages, Means and Standard Deviation) and Inferential statistics (One way Analysis of Variance) was used to analyze the data collected. The study established that the emotional factor that influences information searching and retrieval in the Nigerian Universities studied is frail. Whereas, the null hypothesis formulated was retained, suggesting no significant difference among the academic staff and students in Nigerian Universities studied. The study therefore recommended that library instruction programmes should be attuned to students’ emotional needs. The study concluded that web users can enhance their self-efficacy by diminishing emotional arousals such as fear, stress, and physical agitation since they are associated with decreased performance, reduced success, and other avoidance behaviors..

Keywords: Web Information searching and retrieval, Emotion, Academic staff, Students