Information Technology Skills and Organisational-Supports as Predictors of Institutional Repository’s Utilisation by Researchers in Universities in South-west, Nigeria

Abstract

Institutional Repositories (IRs) play a significant role in disseminating and preserving scholarly research outputs; however, there is a decline in IRs’ utilisation. This study investigated information technology (IT) skills and organisational supports as predictors of IRs’ utilisation by researchers in universities in South-west, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A sample size of 736 was derived using Research Advisor from the total population of 9,921 researchers in selected universities. A questionnaire was used as an instrument, and the data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that researchers possessed adequate skills which are essential for accessing and using materials from IRs. Also, it was revealed that universities provided support such as internet facilities, IT infrastructure, electricity supply, training, and many more. Moreover, the study found out that the relative contributions of the independent variables to the dependent variable, expressed as beta weights, IT skills (β =.156, p<.05), and organisational supports significantly predicted IRs’ utilisation (β =.350, p<.05) respectively. The challenges facing researchers in IRs’ utilisation included infrastructure issues, management support, search skills, internet connectivity, attitudes towards IRs, and policy support. The study concluded that IT skills and organisational support had significant relationships that placed them as predictors of IRs’ utilisation. The study recommends that universities should provide more support such as research grants to researchers, more IT infrastructure, adequate bandwidth for internet connection, and formulate IRs supportive policies.