Perception of Academic Staff on Knowledge Sharing Through Institutional Repositories in Public and Private Universities in Kenya

Abstract

Universities have established platforms through which their academic staff can share knowledge they have generated and acquired through research. These platforms are known as institutional or digital repositories. However, an examination of most repositories shows that academic staffs in some faculties have deposited more research findings than other faculties. Therefore, this study sought to establish the perception of academic staff towards knowledge sharing through institutional repositories in selected public and private universities. The study utilized the Knowledge-Sharing model by Cheng et.al. developed in 2009. The research method adopted was the descriptive research design. The study location for the research included the University of Embu and St Paul’s University. The target population in the selected universities was 75. The sample size was 59 as determined by Krejcie and Morgan scales. The questionnaire was the main tool for collecting data. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically while Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics presented through percentages, frequencies, pie charts, tables and graphs. Logistical and ethical considerations were strictly adhered to. The study findings were as follows: the academic staffs have a positive perception towards KS, self-archiving is yet to be embraced by a significant number of academic staff. The study recommended that academic staff to be trained on self-archiving of their research outputs in IRs.