Information needs and Information-seeking behaviour of auto mechanics in Siwdu, Cape Coast, Ghana

1.1 Brief description of Siwdu and Cape Coast

Siwdu is a suburb in Cape Coast where a lot of auto mechanics have their shops. Siwdu in “Fante” (Ghanaian language) means “Top-of-a-Hill” meaning that the workshops of the Auto Mechanics were built on the Top-of-a-Hill. There are over four hundred mechanic workshops in Siwdu and the place is noted for dealings in automobiles and their parts only. The mechanic workshops in Siwdu have over the years contributed to the development of Cape Coast and its environs.

Cape Coast is the Regional Capital of the Central Region of Ghana and it is situated on the south of the Gulf of Guinea and until 1877, was the capital of Ghana. Cape Coast is noted for most of the best educational institutions in Ghana. Some of these institutions include Mfansipim Senior High School (the First second-cycle institution in Ghana), Wesley Girls Senior High School, St Augustine’s Senior High School, Holy Child Senior High School, Cape Coast Technical University and the University of Cape Coast. In addition, some of its attractive sites include forts and castles, Kakum National Park and an Ostrich farm.

Auto mechanics are mainly considered to be artisans and therefore grouped with people who are engaged in such occupations like hairdressing, barbering, plumbing, tailoring, vulcanizing, electrical work, refrigerator repairing, shoe making, printing, carpentry, air conditioner repairing amongst others. There are different categories of auto mechanics in Ghana; those with polytechnic and technical education as their highest education; those with second cycle as their highest educational qualification; those with basic education and those without any formal education. No matter which category one falls into some level of apprenticeship or internship is required.

Considering the influx of both new and second-hand vehicles in the Cape Coast metropolis, it is prudent that the owners get a place to service and repair their cars when they develop faults. The establishment of shops at Siwudu has saved people from travelling long distances to Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi to have their faulty cars repaired. The existence of these shops is a great relief for the owners of vehicles and a source of revenue for the auto mechanics. Thus, whatever be the problem, these artisans need authentic information to enable them performing their jobs perfectly.

1.2 Objective of the study

This study has the following objectives; to

• 1. find out the calibre of auto mechanics at Siwdu, Cape Coast.
• 2. find out the information needs of the auto mechanics.
• 3. discover the format the auto mechanics source for information.
• 4. determine their level of satisfaction with reference to information obtained.

1.3 Statement of the problem

Auto mechanics are trained to be able to detect faults with motor vehicles and repair the faults detected, so the existence of auto mechanics serves as a catalyst in the transportation of goods and services from one place to another. Auto mechanics work becomes easier when their information needs are provided. On the contrary, there has been a growing number of complaints about the genuineness of the spare parts used by auto mechanics, and at times their ability to detect the exact fault on one’s vehicle in order to enable them fixing it once and for all. Certainly, theses hortcomings do not only embarrass the auto mechanics but also serve as a source of worry for the owners of vehicles. The researchers believe these arise as a result of lack of appropriate information as to how these faults could be fixed

Based on this the researchers wanted to know whether the auto mechanics have information needs and if yes, how they seek information. In fact, there is no literature on information-seeking behaviour of auto mechanics. Almost all the literature is on students and other trades. Thus, the information needs of auto mechanics are not known. This study ascertained the information needs of auto mechanics in the light of their everyday activities. For example, the kind of information they need for what purposes and how they manage to get the required information.

The findings of this study will serve as a guide to the auto mechanics in their search for information materials. It will also serve as a source of reference to anyone who would want to undertake further research on the topic.

2.1 What is information needs?

Research on information needs and information-seeking concurs that information is tailored to individual’s job and the tasks they perform. For one to take any decision, one needs relevant information. Shenton and Dixon (2003) as quoted in Agosto and Hughes-Hassell (2005) created a typology of children’s’ and teens’ information need categories. The typology included eleven major types of information that teens used: advice, personal information, affective support, empathetic understanding, support for skills development, school-related, subject information, inter driven information, consumer information, self-development information, reinterpretation and supplementation information and verification information. There is no doubt that the auto mechanics would need quite a number of these informational needs.

Some auto mechanics are illiterates, but whether literate or not everybody should be allowed adequate access to information to help them perform as better informed citizens. In other words, the use of and access to information is considered as one of the most fundamental and important human right (United Nations, 2014). The right of access to information”, organized by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and adopted in May 2010, refers to the right to information to assist in decision-making (UNESCO, 2010)

2.2 Information Seeking -Behaviours of Auto mechanics

Information-seeking can be looked at as a solution, where someone in need of information realises his need, looks for the information, evaluates it before use. This is more or less like being information literate. Seeking-information is not the same as the needed information. Wilson and Streatfield (1981) as quoted in Fatima and Ahmad (2008), information-seeking behaviours is an area of interest to librarians and information specialists. One cannot have any message to satisfy his needs if he does not go out of his way to seek. Just like the Biblical statement “seek and you shall find”

According to Fatima and Ahmad (2008), everyone needs information of increasing variety and diversity of level, frequency, volume and ease. This situation appears to be ambiguous and heterogeneous as that information of particular group of users and information flow from specific situation in organisations are difficult to determine. To them, the situation has given rise to the growth concept of information searching and the manner of determining the pattern of searching is said to be information-seeking behaviour. Information-seeking behaviour is expressed in various forms from reading printed materials to research and experimentation.

Lakshmi, Chinnasamy and Venkatachakum (2011), Abels (2004) as quoted by Lakshmi et al. mentioned that the frequency of use of the “internet” in 1998 to 2000 had greatly increased. At the same time expenditure on monograph showed steady increase. The library therefore, is the most widely used source of information available to literate societies. It is therefore the responsibility of the librarian to know the type of information people need and how they manage to get the required information.

2.3 Information - Seeking Behaviour model

Information is essential in the task of auto mechanics therefore Wilson’s Micro Model of Information-Seeking Behaviour (2006) was considered to be the appropriate model for the study. The work looked at auto mechanics information needs, the sources of the information and the degree of information-seeking skills of the artisans. In addition, it can be noted that the environment plays a leading role in Wilson’s model; thus, the work role and the performance role are greatly influenced by work environment, socio-cultural environment, politico-economic environment and physical environment. However, the individual artisans may encounter challenges which could be personal, interpersonal and environmental when seeking for information.

Fig. 1.

Information-Seeking BehaviourSource: Wilson (2006)

4.1 Background of respondents

The majority of the respondents (58; 96%) were male, whilst the remaining 4% (2) were female. This confirms that this profession can be said to be the preserve for men. Physically, it involves lifting and standing for long hours that often requires brute strength.

It also came to light that 88 % (53) of the respondents were between the ages of 40 and 50 years. Eight percent (5) of the respondents were between 50 and 60 years, whilst only 4% (2) were above 60 years. This clearly shows that majority of the people have enough energy and strength to work over a long period of time. This also gives an indication of the number of years one has to go through apprenticeship and work experience before becoming a Master craftsman.

With their educational background, it came out that 6% (4) had Polytechnic education, 10% (6) Technical, 17% (10) Senior High School and the remaining 67% (40) had either Middle School leaving Certificate or Junior High School education. The interview further revealed that apart from the Polytechnic graduates, almost all the respondents acquired their skills through apprenticeship and experience.

Information needs of auto mechanics

According to the Wilson’s model (2006) used for the study, the work role and the required performance level of the type of working environment of an individual influences the information-seeking behaviour of the worker, with this in mind, the study sought to ascertain the possible problems that may call for the need of information and the following were the key factors enumerated by the respondents.

4.2 The need for durable spare parts

All the respondents indicated that they needed to know where they can acquire durable spare parts in order to let people patronise their services. Some of those interviewed stated the following.

My headache is where to get the spare parts that will perfect the the repairs I do.
There are a lot of imitations on the market and that is our problem.
As for me, I always pray to God to direct me to where I can get good spare parts to make my customers happy.

4.3 Cost of spare parts

The respondents stated that the cost of living is high so most car owners finds it difficult to spend on their faulty cars therefore there is the need for spare parts to be cheap. The majority of them stated that

The government should consider reducing the prices of spare parts so that we can also reduce the cost of our services.
More factories for the production of vehicle spare parts should be established in Ghana, because the majority of the spare parts are imported.

4.4 Low level of education

The study earlier indicated that only 6% of the respondents had polytechnic education as a result majority of the auto mechanics lacked information literacy skills that will enable them search for information from electronic and non-electronic information sources for their work. The study also revealed that most of them (56%) are not conversant with the various sources of information.

4.5 Information-seeking behaviour

On the issue of the nature of information they want, respondents were allowed to tick more than one answer, it came to light that majority of them (88%) needed information on technical issues. Forty-six percent of them wanted information on social issues, and twenty-two percent of them also stated that they needed information on current affairs. Surprisingly, none of them stated that they needed information on academic issues.

Information needed should be searched for, and some of the strategies required for searching for information are tracking, selecting, comparing, acquiring, consulting and trial and error. The finding revealed that the minority of the respondents 8% always contacted their former bosses (Masters) for the information they needed to perform some tasks. Ten percent of them stated that they relied on their experiences, and the majority (82%) said they asked their friends or colleagues.

Respondents were asked to select the various electronic sources of information they have been using to acquire information for the type of work they do. All the respondents said they always listened to the radio. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of them stated that they get most of their information by watching television. Thirty-five percent (35%) stated that they used social media; to be precise Facebook and Whats App to share information with their friends and colleagues in the profession, whilst 10% of them use the internet (Percentage computed was based on multiple responses provided by the respondents). None of the respondents stated that they used the library. The following were some of the responses of the interviewees;

I listen to the radio in my house and at work so I take note of advertisements on where I can get cheap spare parts.
I like viewing television when I am at home because with television you see what they are talking about
I am not information literate so I am comfortable with the radio and the television.
I use my phone to take pictures of the spare parts I need for a friend to buy them for me from Accra (the capital city of Ghana).
I do not know that I can get information on the work I do from the library.

During the interview, it also came out that the Associations sometimes held meetings to discuss their challenges. To them, this helped in building good relationships. They added that sometimes at such meetings people from the Metropolitan Assembly of Cape Coast and other Government agencies visit them and through the inter reaction they are informed of some issues that hitherto they had no idea. The majority of them were not aware that their information needs can be provided in the library and in view of that some of them suggested that

The Ghana Library Authority and other libraries can run workshops and seminars on Sources of Information available in the library for us.

In a follow up question, respondents were asked whether they feel satisfied with the type of information they get and the interview revealed that;

I am very happy if the information I get enables me to work well, but it is very difficult to get the right information

To some of them the electronic vehicles are a challenge to them and that they do not have enough accurate information to enable them to work on these cars.

One of the challenges was that some of the respondents thought we were just wasting their time. Some of the respondents were even suspicious of us. One of such persons said ‘people always come to us in order to increase our taxes’. The respondents also said they knew they could use the social media to check on information but did not know how to do it, while some others felt it was tiring and a waste of time. It also came out that almost all of the respondents did not want their children to understudy them because they felt that there were no retirement benefits, apart from the fact that the work was too difficult. A respondent said the following as a challenge;

One needs to buy or rent a land before he could start his business, and sometimes as you begin to get established on a piece of land somebody from nowhere comes to claim ownership of that piece of land.