Int. J. Technology Policy and Law, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2017 43
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Awareness and knowledge of cyber ethics by library
and information science doctoral students in two
Nigerian universities
Airen Adetimirin
Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Email: ae.adetimirin@ui.edu.ng
Email: aeadetimirin@gmail.com
Abstract: Library and information science (LIS) doctoral students need to
source for information from various information sources and this necessitate
the use of information and communication technology (ICT) for their research
and other academic activities. Their behaviour when using ICT will be
determined by their awareness and knowledge of the legal, moral and social
issues. This study, therefore, investigated the current level of awareness and
knowledge that LIS doctoral students have about cyber ethics. The privacy,
accuracy, property and accessibility (PAPA) framework is the anchor for this
study. A survey design and a questionnaire were adopted to collect data from
doctoral students in two Nigerian universities. Data collected was analysed
using descriptive statistics and cross tabulation. Findings revealed that the level
of awareness and knowledge of cyber ethics by the students were high
(> 83.4%) and (> 73.5%) respectively, although Ilorin showed a higher level of
awareness and knowledge than Ibadan. The adherence to PAPA framework
was in the range of 51.8%–92.0%. LIS doctoral students are highly aware and
knowledgeable about cyber ethics. Cyber ethics education should be provided
to promote compliance with cyber ethics among the LIS doctoral students in
Nigerian universities.
Keywords: cyber ethics; awareness; knowledge; LIS doctoral students; PAPA
framework.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Adetimirin, A. (2017)
‘Awareness and knowledge of cyber ethics by library and information science
doctoral students in two Nigerian universities’, Int. J. Technology Policy and
Law, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp.43–55.
Biographical notes: Airen Adetimirin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department
of Library, Archival and Information Studies at the University of Ibadan,
Nigeria. She holds a Bachelor degree in Agriculture (Crop Science), Master of
Library Studies and PhD in Library Studies from the University of Ibadan,
Nigeria. Her research focus is on use of ICT for e-learning, library service
delivery, teaching and distance learning and has published in both national and
international journals. She is a member of the International Federation of
Library Associations (IFLA), Informing Science Institute (USA), Nigerian
Library Association (NLA) and Chartered Institute of Library and Information
Professionals (CILIP), UK.