Mixing of research methods in investigating digital archiving practices at Selected Public Universities in Kenya

Abstract

Mixed methods research (MMR) is gaining prominence as a research design in the records and archives management discipline and information science field at large. Researchers, scholars, and practitioners are drifting away from the mono-method cocoon dominated by qualitative approaches and are slowly embracing MMR. This study investigated digital archiving in selected public universities in Kenya with a view to developing a framework for digital archiving in the institutions. Using MMR, data was collected from six institutions, namely University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Moi, Kenyatta, Maseno, and Egerton Universities. Preliminary findings suggest digital archiving in Kenya is still in its infancy and a lot needs to be done to streamline the practice in universities. Among other suggestions, the study recommended a systematic roll-out of awareness programmes for top officials in the institutions to bring them to a position of appreciating and supporting digital archiving initiatives.