Investigating the perceptions of records and archives professionals in Namibia on the importance of records and archives management associations

Abstract

The study investigating the perceptions of records and archives professionals in Namibia on the importance of records and archives management associations. The main objective of this study was to investigate the understanding of records and archives professionals in Namibia on the importance of records and archives management associations. The objectives of the study were: to investigate if any of the records and archives professionals in Namibia were in any associations and how they were benefitting from them; to determine how members of records and archives management associations benefited from them; to find out the reasons why records and archives management staff did not join records and archives management associations; to come up with the recommendations that could help recruitment drive for membership into records and archives management associations. This study used mixed methods research approach whereby both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used to collect data. The population of the study was records and archives professionals and the key informants. A census combined with convenience sampling was used to select questionnaire respondents. Purposive sampling technique was used to select three heads of records and archives management. Data was collected using survey questionnaire for records and archives professionals and interview guide for the key informants. The research instruments used for this study were structured questionnaire and semi-structured guide for interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for descriptive statistics. The study revealed that records and archives professionals benefitted from records and archives management associations through trainings, meetings, and workshops. The study found out the challenges that records and archives management members were facing and suggested where the associations could improve. The study also found out why some participants were not members of records and archives management associations and their perceptions towards these associations. Finally, the study recommended that records and archives management associations should market the associations in order to recruit more members.