INFLUENCE OF DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS IN PREDICTING INFORMATION RETRIVAL AMONG STUDENTS OF CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU UNIVERSITY, IGBARIAM, ANAMBRA STATE

The study examined the perceived influence of digital literacy skills on information retrieval by students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam. The research design chosen for the study was descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised of over 14,500 registered students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Library, Igbariam. Stage Sampling Method was used to draw 10% from the population given 1,450 as sample population. Out of 1,450 questionnaires distributed, 1,390 (95%) were used for the study. A self-designed questionnaire and checklist were the major instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts from the Educational Foundation and Library and Information Science Departments in the Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. The instrument yielded a Cronbach-Alpha coefficient value of 0.71. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean. The findings revealed that digital literacy skills have a positive impact on the student's ability to retrieve information. The level of awareness on digital literacy skills by students was low. However, further findings showed that students who possess these skills may not have fully understood the concept of digital literacy. The obstacles that hinder students from effective retrieval of information are inability to evaluate the credibility of online resources, and lack of necessary guidance and support from librarians, among others. It was concluded that digital literacy skills significantly influence information retrieval for students in university. Although, the students under study possess a good number of necessary digital literacy skills, their level of awareness is very poor. The study recommended that the university management should integrate digital literacy skill programme into their curriculum to help students understand elaborately the concept of digital literacy skills.