Information Behaviour of Masters and Doctoral Students in Accessing and Using the Theses and Dissertation Database at the University of Dar es Salaam

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to assess ways by which postgraduate (i.e. masters and doctoral) students from the College of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) became aware of University of Dar es Salaam Theses and Dissertations Database. It also sought its perceived usefulness, challenges encountered as well as opinions on access to and use of the database. This was  prompted by a reported low usage of the database. The population for the study consisted of 77 masters and 40 doctoral students in the College of Arts and Social Sciences as well as all seven librarians in the section for Reference Services Collection of the University of Dar es Salaam Library. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaire and individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Results from the study reveal that only few students were aware of the database and they used it to know what others have done in their research areas as well as finding relevant  keywords for searching in other databases. The study recommended that students should be encouraged to use electronic theses and dissertations to improve on their research work.