Influence of Mindfulness on Online Information Searching Strategies of the University of Ibadan Undergraduate Students

The objective of the study was to determine the impact of mindfulness on online information search strategies of undergraduate students at the University of Ibadan. The study assessed the level of online information search strategies, and mindfulness dimension, aiming at identifying the relationship between the independent variable (mindfulness dimension) on online information search strategies. The study was conducted on undergraduate students of the University of Ibadan. The research adopted a correlational research survey design, with a total population of 11,812 students across seven faculties that were purposively determined, and a sample of 387 using Yamane (1967) sampling formula. The data was collected using a Google Forms questionnaire, and a total of 384 valid data were collected and analyzed on SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics for the research questions, while Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were used for the hypothesis The study showed a moderate level of mindfulness and online information search strategies among the University of Ibadan students. In terms of online information search strategies, control skill was the highest with a mean of 4.04, and the least being trial and error with a mean of 3.29. On the mindfulness dimension, flexibility has the highest mean of 3.87, and engagement has the lowest mean of 2.69. The study also shows that there is a significant relationship between mindfulness and OISS (0.834), at the P-value of 0.000, as well as a strong relationship between individual dimensions of mindfulness and online information search strategies.