LIBRARIANS’ SUPPORT AND SUCCESS OF THE DOCTORAL RESEARCH PROCESS IN SELECTED KENYAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
Abstract
Purpose: Enrollment of students pursuing doctoral qualifications has been increasing over the last decade, yet success of doctoral studies has been at an all-time low in Kenya compared to other universities in the world. Some of the arguments advanced for the low completion rates are supervisory, student issues and lack of quality information resources and poor information seeking skills. Librarians’ support in the success of doctoral research process is considered in this study. The objective of the study was to examine how librarians’ support contributes to the success of doctoral research process in selected Kenyan public universities. The study was informed by Kolbs learning cycle theory.
Methodology: Using a pragmatic research philosophy the study employed a descriptive survey design. A sample size of 384 doctoral students was drawn from public universities within Nairobi Metropolitan region offering doctoral programs and 18 senior librarians were sampled to solicit information on services, resources and the infrastructure for research.
Results: The findings indicated a strong and positive relationship between the librarians support and the success of the doctoral research process. An increase in librarian support explains a 43.4 percent success rates for doctoral research process. The current study confirms the need to rethink the librarian’s role that would address the doctoral research information needs and improve accessibility, discoverability of appropriate support.
Policy implication: There is need for librarians to design a framework providing specific support services dedicated for the success of the doctoral research process.
Keywords: librarians’ support, success of the doctoral research process, Kenyan public universities
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