article · Heliyon
Investigating the relationship between information literacy skills, information-seeking behaviour, and lifelong learning provides valuable insight into higher education practices in Ghana. Drawing on data from 278 students at the University of Cape Coast, competency levels were assessed through the American College and Research Library framework, alongside bibliographic analysis of research projects, questionnaires, and interviews. Statistical evaluation revealed that students developed substantial information literacy and lifelong learning competencies. These capabilities corresponded directly with positive attitudes toward seeking information, demonstrating that the majority of surveyed learners became confident users of information resources. To build further capacity, university libraries are encouraged to offer comprehensive information resources and establish structured instructional programmes designed to introduce learners to these materials.
Competence in information literacy is essential for modern academic success and long-term independent learning. Demonstrating how these skills actively shape positive information-seeking habits enables educators and academic librarians to design targeted training initiatives. This ensures graduates possess the critical abilities required to find, evaluate, and use reliable knowledge throughout their academic and professional lives.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway for commercialisation, focusing instead on institutional library services and academic instructional programmes.
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This study investigated the influence of information literacy (IL) skills on students' information seeking behaviour and lifelong learning skills in Higher Educational institutions in Ghana, with particular reference to the University of Cape Coast (UCC). Using a mixed method approach, 278 students from the College of Education Studies, UCC were sampled for the study. The components of the American College and Research Library (ACRL) model was used to measure the information literacy competence level of the students. A content and bibliographic evaluation of students' research projects were conducted using document analysis. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was used to determine the association between information literacy skills and information seeking behaviour of students from data collected through questionnaires, interviews and document analysis. The results revealed that respondents had developed substantial skills in information literacy and lifelong learning skills and thus adopted positive attitudes in information seeking. The paper concludes that majority of the students were confident users of information. The study recommends that academic libraries should make available a wide array of information sources and deliberately run programmes to introduce students to those information sources as a way of building their competency levels in information literacy.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18427
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