Examining Information Seeking Behaviour among Students in Selected Senior High Schools in Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Abstract

This study attempted to explore information-seeking behaviours among selected senior high school students in Accra Metro in the Greater Accra Region. Among other things, the study probed into the sources of information, how they evaluate information sources, how they affect their academic lives and other relevant issues. The study used a quantitative research design to collect data. Specifically, a cross-sectional survey was used to collect data by administering a questionnaire to the study participants. A sample size of one hundred and twenty (120) students was selected. The sampling technique used to select participants was convenience sampling. The data were analysed through Friedman’s test. Findings show that the traditional source remains a dominant source of academic information seeking among the students. Majority of the respondents mainly depend on their teachers and the materials provided by their teachers for academic information. Libraries constituted the least preferred source of seeking academic information. However, the students demonstrate a strong sense of resilience in their information-seeking behaviour. The findings from the study make several contributions to both literature and practice. Among others, the study probes into the sources of information, how they evaluate information sources to understand how information-seeking behaviours affect their academic lives. Again, the findings from the study also contribute to building the literature on information seeking in general and for academic purposes in particular, especially among adolescents.