Volume Two - Academic Conferences

Maruff Akinwale Oladejo and Adelua Olajide Olawole
than actual use. Also, Gbaje (in Omotayo, 2010), writing on Nigerian academic libraries, reported that
only 20 percent of those sampled provide access to electronic resources. (Azubogu and Madu 2007)
observed that academic staff of the Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria, have resorted to the use of
computer and Internet technologies to search for information because the University library lacks
funds to subscribe to scholarly and research journals. In her recent study on access, use and
attitudes of academics towards electronic journals at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria,
(Omotayo 2010)’s findings revealed that all the respondents were aware of, and have used e-journals,
though the frequency of use ranged from daily to occasional. Also, it was revealed that the majority
150 of respondents, that is, 61% prefer electronic journals, while ninety-five (39 percent) prefer print.
Those who preferred electronic journals cited their monthly subscription for Internet connectivity,
which they must enjoy, and access to faster and quicker information electronically than going
physically to the library to look for print journals as some of the reasons for their usage.
1.1 The concept of electronic publishing and publications
Electronic publishing could be described as the process of formatting and producing scholarly
journals in an electronic environment (Ken 2001). The products of e-publishing are electronic
publications, which are those publications often in form of Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) or
Portable Document Files (PDF), word processing files (DOC), or other types of files that are uploaded
to the Internet, or distributed privately. Electronic publishing is certainly improving scholarly
communication. First, it breaks the tyranny of distance between authors and editors, reviewers, and
researchers. Second, it promotes global scholarly communication. Third, electronic publishing cost
effective as it eliminates many of the costs associated with printing and distribution Varian( Ken,2001).
Fourth, electronic journals are intrinsically archival, since it is easier to store back files of journals and
linked scholarship together with hyperlinks. Electronic publications can also be put on a physical
medium, such as a disk or CD. These can be freely distributed with information on them or sold to
individuals. The advantage to this type of medium is that distribution of the information can be more
closely regulated, though distribution is not as quick.
1.2 Motivational factors and electronic publishing
According to (Mitchell 1996:81), “Motivation represents those psychological processes that cause
arousal, direction and persistence of voluntary actions that are goal directed”. In the opinion of Steers
and Porter ( in Mitchell, 1996), when we discuss motivation, we are primarily concerned with (1) what
energizes human behaviour; (2) what directs or channels such behaviour; and (3) how this behaviour
is maintained or sustained. In the Motivational Systems Theory (MST), motivation is defined as “the
organized patterns of three psychological functions that serve to direct, energize, and regulate goaldirected
activity: personal goals, emotional arousal processes, and personal agency beliefs” (Oladejo,
2010:143).
In this study, the researchers contended that attitudes towards technology, computer self-efficacy and
academic self-concept are some of the factors capable of motivating academics to embrace epublishing.
For instance, (Webster and Hackely 1997) explained the three instructor characteristics
influencing electronic publishing among which is attitude towards technology was identified. By
attitudes, (Ajzen and Fishbein 1980) maintained that they are positive or negative evaluations of
object, people, or situation that predispose one to feel and behave toward them in positive or negative
ways. Measuring attitudes has an important role in analyzing behaviour because it is known as a fact
that there is a strong correlation between attitude and behavior (Bertea 2009). In the context of eenvironment,
a favourable attitude of academics shows a greater probability that they will accept the
modern medium of information dissemination. Furthermore, in general terms, (Bandura 1986: p. 391)
defined self-efficacy as "people's judgments of their capabilities to organize and execute courses of
action required to attain designated types of performance". The concept of computer self-efficacy
(CSE) emerged from the self-efficacy literature. It measures one’s confidence in mastering a new
technology or software with certain degree of confidence (Compeau & Higgins, 1995). (Stephens &
Shotick 2001), provided the best definition of computer self-efficacy relevant to the present study as
an individual’s belief in their ability to use technology in order to solve problems, make decisions, and
to gather and disseminate information. Also, (Foucher and Prince 2003) argued that in the field of
eLearning, students who decide to use the inter system have a sense of self-efficacy higher than
those who choose not to use the system.
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