COMPUTER-BASED DATA MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR CHEMISTRY RESEARCH IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES OF TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study developed a computer-based data management model for chemistry research in federal universities of technology (FUTs) in Nigeria. There are five FUTs in Nigeria namely: FUT Minna, FUT Akure, FUT Owerri, ATBU Bauchi and MAUTECH, Yola. These specialised universities were selected because they have similar structure in terms of funding and academic programmes. A field of study found in all the federal universities of technology in Nigeria, and which is germane to this study, is Chemistry. The study aimed at determining research data management practices and perceptions of chemists and to further develop a computer-based data management model for use in chemistry. A data management model is a system that guide researchers on the relevant data items and information that needs to be preserved all through the research lifecycle. Four research objectives and questions guided the study. The first objective was to understand the existing research data management practice of chemists, second objective developed a software prototype that can assist in research data management based on chemists’ existing research workflow, third objective was for technology acceptance testing of the developed software, while the fourth objective suggested a framework for implementation of research data management services by libraries in FUTs in Nigeria. The study adopted the exploratory research design using mixed methods of qualitative and quantitative data gathering and analyses. Forty (40) chemists and fifteen (15) heads of libraries, Information and Technology Service (ITS) units and research offices across the five FUTs in Nigeria participated in the study. Interview schedule, record inspection, observation technique, and copies of questionnaire were used to gather data. Qualitative data analysis was done using thematic explanation building techniques and Provalis Qualitative Data Analysis software; while median and Kendall’s Tau-b Correlation Coefficient was used to analyse quantitative data. Java programming language and MySQL database management system was used to develop the frontend and back end of the software prototype respectively. The developed software named: Chemistry Research Data Management System (ChRDMS) was subjected to users and technology acceptance testing using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. Findings revealed that chemists in Nigeria are yet to incorporate appropriate research data management practice during their research processes. However, their behavioural intention towards use of the developed computer-based research data management prototype is significant as they found the software relevant to their research workflow and easy to learn and use. Research experience of chemists was also found to be a major reason for the acceptance and use of the ChRDMS. The study therefore, concluded that libraries in FUTs in Nigeria should as a matter of urgency, roll out research data management services using the implementation framework proposed by this study.