DIGITAL PROFICIENCY AS AND CRITICAL EVALUATION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES BY POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY, KADUNA

Abstract

The research aimed to investigate the influence of digital proficiency on the critical evaluation of electronic information resources among postgraduate students at Kaduna State University, Kaduna. To achieve this objective, a survey design was employed, assessing the digital proficiency levels of postgraduate students and their subsequent utilization of electronic information resources for critical evaluation. The study included a population of 411 postgraduate students enrolled in the university during the academic sessions from 2022 to 2024. A sample of 82 respondents was selected using a sampling formula devised by Wimmer and Dominick (1987), ensuring representation across various academic disciplines and study levels. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. After the collection, the data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The analysis involved generating frequency distributions and percentages to summarize the responses. The results revealed that the majority of postgraduate students at Kaduna State University perceived their digital proficiency to be high. This indicates that these students possess the necessary skills and competencies to effectively navigate and critically evaluate the electronic information resources available to them. These findings underscore the importance of digital proficiency in enhancing students' ability to critically assess and utilize electronic resources for academic and research purposes. The study concluded that digital proficiency plays in enabling postgraduate students to critically evaluate electronic information resources. The results show that most postgraduate students at Kaduna State University perceive themselves as digitally proficient, allowing them to effectively navigate and assess the wealth of electronic information available for academic and research activities. The study also recommended further Digital Skills Training, although most students reported high digital proficiency, continuous training in advanced digital literacy skills should be provided to ensure students remain up-to-date with emerging tools and technologies, enhancing their ability to critically evaluate more complex information resources.