Challenges Undergraduate Students Encounter in their Evaluation of Academic Information: A Case Study of UNZA

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to investigate the challenges of third and fourth year undergraduate students at the University of Zambia encounter in their evaluation of academic information. In order to do this, the report came up with the following objectives; to explore the sources that undergraduate students often consult, to find out the criteria used by undergraduate students to evaluate academic information and to ascertain the challenges/ difficulties/ problems third and fourth year undergraduate students at UNZA face in their evaluation of academic information. The study used random design to sample the third and fourth year students at the University of Zambia (UNZA) Main Campus. The study collected quantitative data which was analysed using a computer software SPSS version 23. The major findings of the study indicated that the majority of the students at the institution use online resources when acquiring information for their academic tasks. Majority of these students use relevance of information when evaluating academic information. And majority of them do face the challenge in recognising the credibility of authors and websites. Therefore, the study concluded that students do still face challenges in evaluating academic information due to lack of skills such as information literacy. In ensuring that students do have a skill in evaluating information in order to produce quality information for academic development, the students have suggested that there is need for the institution to update the library with needed materials for study and as well as improving internet services so that they can easily access information online.