An analysis of the e-research needs of postgraduate students at higher education institutions

Abstract

This dissertation reports on an analysis conducted to establish the electronic research needs experienced by postgraduate students at higher education institutions within an increasing electronic research environment. Innovation and improvements in technology have caused research students to approach the library with a whole range of needs and expectations undreamed of in the nonelectronic library. A quantitative research instrument was mainly used to gather data, together with the results from a user survey. This study is therefore regarded as a quantitative study. From both the literature survey and research for this study it became clear that postgraduate students in South Africa and throughout the world experience similar e-research needs with regard to primary data sharing, transfer of data and computation, e-access, e-communication, e-training and e-publishing. By taking the specific needs of postgraduate students into account, the library will be able to create an electronic research environment distinguished by ease of use and access - the principal and most valued research partner in a postgraduate students’ pursuit of academic distinction and success.