Identification of information needs: Perspective of undergraduate students from a Ghanaian university

Abstract

This study investigated how the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) students identify their information needs. Information need refers to recognising that knowledge is lacking to satisfy a goal or solve a problem, prompting searching for information. A qualitative approach was used for the collection of data for this study. The population for this study was made up of undergraduate students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Using quota sampling, a sample of seventy (70) participants was selected for the study. Data was collected through the use of interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data collected from the study participants. The study's findings indicate that the participants could identify their information needs. These include the need for information for academic work, decision-making and problem-solving, broadening of knowledge base, a lack of information, leisure, curiosity, and clearing up of doubts. Based on these findings, the study recommends librarian-faculty collaboration to leverage these different information needs and design information literacy programmes to improve the students’ information literacy skills. Additionally, the findings of this study can also serve as an inspiration for further studies in information literacy within the Ghanaian context.