Abstract
This study investigated how postgraduate students at public universities in South-South
Nigeria search for information digitally and how this affects the use of electronic
information resources (EIR). The design employed was descriptive research. The study
population was 1,250 postgraduate students at Delta State University (DELSU), Niger Delta
University (NDU) and Rivers State University (RSU) selected purposefully. From the
population, a sample of 303 was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. The Digital
Search Deficiencies, Institutional Infrastructure, and Electronic Resource Utilization
Questionnaire (DSDIIERUQ) was utilized to collect data. Of the 303 questionnaires
administered, 291 were retrieved after completion, and were analyzed. Data analysis was
done using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that postgraduate students
encountered a number of problems in digital searching due to poor selection of keywords,
inability to understand Boolean operators, and ineffective use of search filters. The study
further revealed that the utilization of electronic resources was a result of poor
infrastructures and irregular power supply, in addition to having a constrained campus
network and inadequate remote access to resources. From the results of Pearson
correlation, a negative and significant relationship between digital search deficiencies, and
EIR utilization was observed (r = -0.582, p < 0.05). Positive and significant relationship
between institutional infrastructure and EIR utilization was also observed (r = 0.714, p <
0.05). Based on the study findings, it was recommended that public universities in South-
South Nigeria design bonding courses on search literacy for all newly admitted
postgraduate students, and develop solar powered institutional networks to serve the
university information resource needs.
Keywords: Digital Search Deficiencies, Institutional Infrastructure, Electronic Information
Resources (EIRs), Utilization, Postgraduate Research, South-South Nigeria.
Publication Date: 2026-10-31