Information-seeking behaviors of academic researchers in the internet age: A user study in the United States, China and Greece
✍ Scribed by Peiling Wang; Dimitris A. Dervos; Yan Zhang; Lei Wu
- Publisher
- Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
- Year
- 2008
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 155 KB
- Volume
- 44
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0044-7870
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
This paper presents preliminary results of an ongoing study of academic researchers' information‐seeking and communication behaviors (IS) in the Internet age. The study used a semi‐structured interview method, and a hybrid quantitative and qualitative approach to observe research use of Internet‐enabled information and communication technologies/resources (IICTs). A research framework is developed to comprise two dimensions: (A) IS behaviors pertaining to long‐term research needs or corresponding to project lifecycle; (B) IICTs providing information or supporting communication. The IS dimension adopts Ellis's behavioral model with revision; the IICT dimension includes commonly used tools and resources such as the Web, email, digital library, online library catalog, e‐journal, etc. This paper reports on part of the preliminary results of three datasets from two disciplines (computer science and engineering) in the U.S. (28 participants), Greece (19 participants), and China (35 participants). Converging and integrating information resources have caused terminological confusions. Overlapping in access to information resources also blurred the boundaries between different types of information systems. The use and non‐use of IICTs depend on many different factors. Our results also show that the major IS activities proposed by Ellis continue to play important roles in research, but these activities are now handled in both traditional and diverse new ways in the Internet environment. Managing information is a big challenge and effective tools are needed. Libraries and librarians are less recognized as information is becoming more accessible via the Internet. There is a need to shift from traditional service and user instruction roles to new roles.