Competence in using open access institutional repositories for improved accessibility of research outputs: The case of selected academic institutions in Tanzania

A paper submitted for publication in Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues

Na minha lista:
Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor principal: Mbughuni, Anna Shangwe
Formato: Artigo
Idioma:en_US
Publicado em: SAGE Publications 2025
Assuntos:
Acesso em linha:https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490251400574
https://scholar.mzumbe.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1904
Tags: Adicionar Tag
Sem tags, seja o primeiro a adicionar uma tag!
_version_ 1872791451452047360
author Mbughuni, Anna Shangwe
author_facet Mbughuni, Anna Shangwe
author_sort Mbughuni, Anna Shangwe
collection DSpace
description A paper submitted for publication in Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues
format Article
id ir-:123456789-1904
institution Mzumbe University
language en_US
publishDate 2025
publisher SAGE Publications
record_format dspace
spelling ir-:123456789-19042026-06-24T18:55:35Z Competence in using open access institutional repositories for improved accessibility of research outputs: The case of selected academic institutions in Tanzania Mbughuni, Anna Shangwe Open Access Institutional Repository OAIRs competency level research productivity institutional research productivity Unified Theory of Acceptance Use of Technology (UTAUT) Academic staff scholarly works visibility Research Output - Visibility Tanzanian Academic Institutions Repository Usage Repository Adoption Scholarly Communication Open Access A paper submitted for publication in Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the competency level in accessing institutional research productivity among users of academic libraries in Tanzania. Specifically, the study focused on examining the level of competency, assessing where users acquired skills of accessing institutional research productivity, establishing the attitude of library users towards acquiring skills, and identifying the constraints faced in acquiring OAIRs skills. Methodology: The study employed a cross-sectional research design. Systematic, random, and purposive sampling procedures were used to obtain a total of 292 respondents and eight key informants. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from academic staff, research fellows, and librarians. Structured questionnaire, interview schedule, and document analysis were used to collect data. Quantitative data were analysed using the SPSS package V20.0, while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. Results: Key findings indicated that 28.4% of the users are computer competent, information search literate (27.1%), communication skilled (27.1%), and competent in scholarly publishing and self-archiving (20.5%). Results indicated that users acquired skills of accessing institutional research productivity from librarians (22.6%) and library technicians (18.2%). Also, results revealed that 57.9% were positive towards acquiring skills, and 56.9% agreed that acquiring skills of OAIRs facilitates free and quick access However, lack of awareness of the presence of OAIRs (38.6%), unawareness of OAIRs policy (22.8%), and lack of budget for training and advocacy of OAIRs (19.3%) were identified as constraints faced in acquiring OAIRs skills. Conclusion: The study concluded that the competency level on accessibility of institutional research productivity is still low among library users, even though the use of OAIRs in Tanzania is still low. Recommendation: Recommended to review OAIRs policies for managing OAIRs, especially putting up a mechanism for enforcing training among users, and investment in infrastructure for improved accessibility of institutional research productivity in Tanzania institutions Private 2025-12-01T05:43:14Z 2025-11-24 Article APA 0955-7490 2050-4551 https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490251400574 https://scholar.mzumbe.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1904 en_US application/pdf SAGE Publications
spellingShingle Open Access Institutional Repository
OAIRs competency level
research productivity
institutional research productivity
Unified Theory of Acceptance
Use of Technology (UTAUT)
Academic staff scholarly works visibility
Research Output - Visibility
Tanzanian Academic Institutions
Repository Usage
Repository Adoption
Scholarly Communication
Open Access
Mbughuni, Anna Shangwe
Competence in using open access institutional repositories for improved accessibility of research outputs: The case of selected academic institutions in Tanzania
title Competence in using open access institutional repositories for improved accessibility of research outputs: The case of selected academic institutions in Tanzania
title_full Competence in using open access institutional repositories for improved accessibility of research outputs: The case of selected academic institutions in Tanzania
title_fullStr Competence in using open access institutional repositories for improved accessibility of research outputs: The case of selected academic institutions in Tanzania
title_full_unstemmed Competence in using open access institutional repositories for improved accessibility of research outputs: The case of selected academic institutions in Tanzania
title_short Competence in using open access institutional repositories for improved accessibility of research outputs: The case of selected academic institutions in Tanzania
title_sort competence in using open access institutional repositories for improved accessibility of research outputs the case of selected academic institutions in tanzania
topic Open Access Institutional Repository
OAIRs competency level
research productivity
institutional research productivity
Unified Theory of Acceptance
Use of Technology (UTAUT)
Academic staff scholarly works visibility
Research Output - Visibility
Tanzanian Academic Institutions
Repository Usage
Repository Adoption
Scholarly Communication
Open Access
url https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490251400574
https://scholar.mzumbe.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1904
work_keys_str_mv AT mbughuniannashangwe competenceinusingopenaccessinstitutionalrepositoriesforimprovedaccessibilityofresearchoutputsthecaseofselectedacademicinstitutionsintanzania