Relationship Between Gender and Cognitive Factors that Influence Information Seeking Amongst Postgraduate Students: a case of Kenyatta University Post-modern Library in Nairobi, Kenya
Affiliations: [a] School of Education, Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. (E): dwambiri@yahoo.com | [b] School of Information Management, Central China Normal University, No.152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan – 430079, Hubei, P R China. (E): masindejohnson@mails.ccnu.edu.cn
Abstract: This article discusses salient features of a study carried out at Kenyatta University. The study was aimed at investigating the relationship between gender and the cognitive factors that drove postgraduate students to approach Post-modern library for seeking information. To attain this objective, this study developed a theoretical framework which can be used by academic libraries as a basis for implementing both digital and reference desk services that would meet dynamic user needs. The study also investigated whether there were any gender differences through correlation coefficient in the context of Expectancy Theory. The motivational process amongst the male and female respondents was then examined to establish whether gender had any role to play in information-seeking process. No gender differences were found by the study in the light of the variables used such as interaction service quality, outcome (need satisfaction), service satisfaction, users’ performance of service, past experience, expectancy, and effort. The major takeaway from the study is—there is no need for libraries to develop/implement information services and systems on the basis of users’ gender. Gender has no role to play in cognitive factors.
Keywords: Gender, Cognitive factors, Postgraduate students, Information seeking
