By obtaining two samples from first-year and fourth- year student cohorts from an engineering degree programme inSri Lanka, the study investigated whether the fourth-year cohort possesses more IL capability compared to the firstyearcohort, which was developed over the degree programme when both cohorts were not exposed to IL instruction.409 first-year and 109 fourth-year engineering undergraduates responded to the survey questionnaire. It was foundthat some improvements in IL were visible over the degree programme. Still, mean values for possession of skills andconfidence in the use of each IL dimension seem insufficient. Irrespective of their level of study both cohorts showeda willingness to undergo formal IL instruction if they were provided such. Students entering the university facechallenges in their information search, retrieval, and use. Therefore, there is a need for empirical analysis of entryleveluniversity students and final-year passing out undergraduates on how they have acquired IL over a course of adegree.
Wickramasinghe et al. (Fri,) studied this question.