The Adoption and Utilisation of Electronic Databases by Postgraduate Students in Ghanaian Universities: A Comparative Study of Kwame Nkrumah Univ. of Science and Tech. and University of Ghana

This article compares the level of awareness, usage and characteristics of electronic databases amongst postgraduate students of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and University of Ghana. It assesses the level at which students from both universities are conversant with such databases and issues that surround their use through a questionnaire administered to 131 students at KNUST and 297 students at University of Ghana (UG). The results indicate a high level of awareness of electronic databases in both institutions, but KNUST students patronise slightly more. Factors like access, ease of use and full-text options are highlighted as key contributors to database utilisation. Improved advertisement and ease of use are called for to ensure effective utilisation of electronic resources by postgraduate students in Ghana. This study highlights the critical role of database promotions and user training in improving the effective utilisation of electronic resources. Recommendations include enhancing interface simplicity and resolving technical barriers to optimise postgraduate engagement in Ghanaian universities.