Abstract:
Background: Gender has been identified as a possible influencing factor in users’ information-
seeking process. Previous studies have alluded to the fact that gender as a variable may be
useful for a better understanding of the cognitive and social background of human information
processing and may have important implications in the information-seeking process. Although
a number of studies have investigated gender, amongst other variables, as having an effect on
the information-seeking process of users, no attempt has been made to investigate the
relationship between gender and cognitive factors on the information-seeking patterns of
graduate students of Kenyatta University Library.
Objective: The study investigates gender and cognitive factors influencing the information-
seeking process of graduate students at Kenyatta University Library.
Methodology: To achieve this objective, the study developed a theoretical framework which
can be used by academic libraries as a basis for implementing both digital and reference desk
services in order to meet the dynamic user needs. The study then investigated whether there
were any gender differences through the correlation coefficient in the context of expectancy
theory. The motivational process amongst the male and female users was then examined to
establish whether there was any difference.
Results: This study found no gender difference in all the variables considered, including
interaction service quality, outcome (need satisfaction,) service satisfaction, users’ performance
of service, past experience, expectancy and effort.
Conclusion: This study found no gender difference in all the variables investigated. The
implication of the findings was that there is no need for mainstreaming gender in service
programming in the library service.
