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Dissertation Information for John M. Newa

NAME:
- John M. Newa

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Pittsburgh (USA) (1990)

ADVISORS:
- Stephen Almagno

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Ambiguous

Title: The learning sources used by illiterate and neoliterate adults in their learning projects in Mwanza, Tanzania

Abstract: The learning and information habits of the target population should determine the design of an effective learning and information delivery system.

The purpose of this study was to identify the learning and information sources and communication channels used by illiterate and neoliteratee adults in their learning projects in Mwanza, Tanzania. The study also examined the use or nonuse of village library resources in order to determine the degree of the perceived relevance of village library resources to the learning projects of the respondents.

Data was collected through the administration of two structured in-depth interview schedules to 76 illiterate and neoliterate adults and to 40 change agents, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The results were presented in the form of frequency distributions, percentages, and means.

The results of the study showed that: (1) The illiterate and neoliterate adults undertook a mean of 4.39 learning projects, and spent a mean of 232 hours, during the previous year. A large proportion of the respondents' learning projects were, however, unreported because it represented incidental and serendipitous learning. (2) The majority of the learning projects appeared to growth out of practical, occupational, health, or other immediate needs. (3) Most of the respondents concluded their learning mainly by practicing, observing, listening, and conversing. Only 15% of the respondents indicated that they had also learned by reading. (4) Availability of and accessibility to learning and information sources were reported as constituting the major obstacles to the learning efforts of the respondents. (5) The respondents frequently used informal and interpersonal sources of learning and information such as family, friends, change agents, literacy classes, group discussions, community meetings, and social networks. (6) As currently and poorly stocked, staffed, and operated, the village library resources were not used significantly by the majority of the respondents, and thus played an insignificant role in the learning projects of the respondents. (7) The socio-economic factors of literacy status and financial ability affected the respondents' ability to use printed media sources, and the availability and accessibility of learning and information sources, respectively.

MPACT Scores for John M. Newa

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:23:39

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Students under John M. Newa

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None