Factors Influencing the Use of Information Resources among Open and Distance Learners Living in Remote Areas of Tanzania: A Case of Rukwa Basin Districts.

Mwalongo, Prisca Paul (2023) Factors Influencing the Use of Information Resources among Open and Distance Learners Living in Remote Areas of Tanzania: A Case of Rukwa Basin Districts. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study investigated the factors influencing the use of digital information resources among Open and Distance Learning students in the Rukwa basin districts of Mbeya, Mbozi, Momba, Songwe, Sumbawanga and Mpanda. Specifically, the study addressed four objectives which were concerned with the examination of the perceived levels of digital information usefulness among remotely located ODL students; assessing the perceived ease of use of digital information among remotely located ODL students; examining the perceived social influence of using digital information among remotely located ODL students and assessing the perceived facilitating conditions towards the adoption of digital information amongst ODL students. Data was collected from 101 purposively sampled respondents using questionnaires complemented with documentary sources. Data analysis was conducted using statistical package of social sciences. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that perceived usefulness and social influences had significant positive effects on the utilization of digital information resources in ODL (β = 0.107, t = 0.661, p < 0.05 and β = 0.044, t = 0.273, p < 0.05, respectively). However, perceived ease of use did not show a significant relationship (β = -0.005, t = -0.031, p > 0.05). The facilitation condition demonstrated a marginally significant negative relationship (β = -0.343, t = -2.10, p = 0.054). Analysis indicated an R-squared value of 0.624, suggesting that the independent variables accounted for approximately 62.4 per cent of the variance in digital information resource utilization. The findings emphasize the importance of perceived usefulness and social influences in promoting the utilization of digital information resources in ODL. Keywords: Digital Information Resources, Open and Distance Learners, Remote Areas, Digital Information.

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