Developing And Evaluating An Online Electronic Theses And Dissertations System: A Case Of The University Of Dodoma

ABSTRACT

Theses and dissertations are among the most important sources of valid detailed information on a particular subject on which researchers conduct widespread research work. This study aimed at developing and evaluating an online electronic theses and dissertations system. The University of Dodoma was used as a case study for this dissertation. A mixed approach data collection method was used effectively in this study. Several literatures were reviewed so as to identify challenges that ETDs systems developed through customization of open source software are facing.

The identified challenges such as steep learning curve, inadequate support, presence of complex features and difficulties in knowledge discovery and collected requirements from UDOM helped a researcher to develop the UDOMETDS for the purpose of addressing these challenges and bring the improved version of ETDs system. Once the UDOMETDS was developed, the system was tested by using spiral strategy and finally formative evaluation approach was used to evaluate its effectiveness. Evaluation process was conducted by selected respondents by using questionnaire checklist. The evaluation findings implied that, high percentage of users about 52.5% had accepted the implemented UDOMETDS at UDOM. This signifies that, the researcher has succeeded at high level to address most of challenges that most of ETDs systems are characterized with. The study suggests the development and implementation of a centralized online electronic theses and dissertations system for archiving and disseminating theses and dissertations findings for all higher learning institutions in Tanzania. This will help in reducing the rate of duplication of theses/dissertations works as well as reducing the rate of plagiarism among Tanzanian graduate researchers.