Relationship Between Gender and Cognitive Factors that Influence Information Seeking Amongst Postgraduate Students: a case of Kenyatta University Post-modern Library in Nairobi, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
D W Muthee ◽  
◽  
J M Masinde ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Modern Library

Information seeking behaviour ofArab social science and humanities postgraduates: Adescriptive study

2021 ◽  
pp. 116-137
Author(s):  
Ahmed Maher Khafaga Shehata ◽  
Amr Hassan Fatouh Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Search Engines ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
English Language ◽  
Arabic Language ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
Seeking Behavior

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a study of information-seeking behavior among a group of Arab postgraduate students in social science and humanities disciplines. The paper also explores information-seeking styles and examines how information seeking is affected by external factors. The study employed a qualitative approach to explore informationseeking behavior in the sample and the sources of information used to obtain scholarly information. A sample of 33 participants was interviewed to elucidate the information-seeking behavior of the Arabic language speakers. The analysis of the interviews revealed that the participants use different methods to find information on the internet. These methods vary from using search engines to using sites that provide pirated scholarly papers. The data showed that most of the sample students use search engines and databases provided by their universities, but they should be trained in research ethics to avoid unacceptable research practices. The results also indicate that searching in other languages represents a challenge for Arab postgraduates in the social sciences and humanities. This study was conducted with social science and humanities postgraduates as part of a series of studies aiming to explore Arab language speakers' scholarly practices. The information-seeking behavior of science disciplines may differ, as the teaching language is mainly in English. This study contributes to the field by expanding our understanding of how non-English language speakers seek scholarly information and what sources are used to obtain the scholarly papers.

Factors affecting the information-seeking behaviour of postgraduate students at the University of South Africa Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Addisalem Gebrekidan Desta ◽  
Madely du Preez ◽  
Patrick Ngulube
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Electronic Information ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
The University

The purpose of this study was to investigate some of the factors affecting the information-seeking behaviour of postgraduate students registered at the University of South Africa (Unisa) as represented by its Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre, with particular emphasis on their use of electronic information resources. A qualitative case study approach was adopted. In semi-structured interviews, eight conveniently selected postgraduate students shared their information-seeking experiences. The data was analysed thematically. The findings identified contextual and personal factors which gave rise to the respondents’ information needs and in turn prompted information activities such as information seeking. Of these, a lack of ICT infrastructure, frequent interruptions in electricity supply, old computers and the location of the Akaki Branch Library proved to be the main factors affecting postgraduate students’ electronic information-seeking behaviour. The findings showed the effect that inadequate facilities have on postgraduate students’ information behaviour.

Predicting Cancer Risk Knowledge and Information Seeking: The Role of Social and Cognitive Factors

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 656-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelly R. Hovick ◽  
Ming-Ching Liang ◽  
LeeAnn Kahlor
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Risk Knowledge

scholarly journals Understanding Information Seeking Behavior of Indonesian Postgraduate Students in Malaysian Universities: An Empirical Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Subhan ◽  
Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Educational Communication ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Constructive Process ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Higher Institutions

Abstract : This study investigates Indonesian postgraduate student’s experience at the pre-sessional program of the process of seeking information and the strategies they used throughout the process. The objective is to understand their information seeking behavior particularly academic-related information in order to improve the effectiveness of educational communication in Malaysia higher institutions. Two research questions are addressed: what experiences do pre-sessional students face in the process of information seeking that can be articulated and described? What stages do pre-sessional students experience in the process of information seeking construction? Using the qualitative method, the study found that the pre-sessional students have different patterns in the constructive process of information seeking in two different groups i.e. writing and reading classes. Six stages and four stages of the search process were identified respectively for the two groups.

scholarly journals Measuring Levels of Students' Anxiety in Information Seeking Tasks

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 56-68
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif Naveed ◽  
Kanwal Ameen
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Program Of Study ◽  
Computer Proficiency ◽  
Measured Information ◽  
The University

This study measured information seeking anxiety among postgraduate students of the University of the Punjab, Lahore. Survey method using questionnaire was employed to conduct this investigation. The questionnaire consisting of an Information Seeking Anxiety Scale and demographic variables was administered in students, selected through convenient sampling procedure, for data collection. The results indicated that a large majority (n=207, 82.4%) of the respondents experienced more than low anxiety in the information seeking process. No significant relationship was found between age, gender, faculty and information seeing anxiety scores of these students. Conversely, there were significant differences in anxiety scores of students based on the program of study, stage of study, and computer proficiency. The results provide useful insights for guidance of information professionals dealing with reference and research services, especially those engaged in designing information literacy curricula and managing information literacy instructions.

The Impact of Sociocultural Factors on Students’ ICT Information-Seeking Practices: Postgraduate Students’ Perceptions at a Zimbabwean University

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1 & 2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bongani Ngwenya ◽  
Theuns Pelser
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of cultural differences on students’ information-seeking, management and evaluation practices in an online information and communication technology (ICT) environment. The study was conducted at a Zimbabwean university on postgraduate students (male and female) (N=156), employing the questionnaire technique as data collection instrument. While there is a dearth of empirical studies on the use of ICT in Zimbabwe, the extant literature in this field shows a significant difference between the success and failure in the use of ICT sources for learning purposes among students in developing and developed countries. This study is premised on the proposition that “information seeking” is socioculturally bounded and the successful use of online information sources is significantly linked to the students’ perceptions of particular ICT platforms and how they are configured to facilitate specific information search outcomes. After the data collection process, the computer analysis software programme, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), was employed to obtain the cross-tabulations and chi-squared statistical tests. The main findings of the study show a statistically significant difference in students’ information-seeking practices. The study identified the importance of students’ cultural contexts in the successful use of ICT and concludes that cultural differences influence online information-seeking practices among students. The study recommends that the impact of cultural differences be considered when students are introduced to the use of ICT as an information-seeking tool and suggests that future studies, both qualitative and quantitative, be pursued to improve students’ information-seeking practices to enhance their success.

scholarly journals The interplay of affective and cognitive factors in information seeking and use

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reijo Savolainen
Keyword(s):  
Information Search ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Search Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Good Potential

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the conceptual picture of the relationships between the affective and cognitive factors in information seeking and use. Design/methodology/approach – Conceptual analysis focusing on the ways in which the affective and cognitive factors and their interplay are approached in the Information Search Process model developed by Carol Kuhlthau, and the Social-Biological Information Technology model elaborated by Diane Nahl. Findings – Kuhlthau’s model approaches the cognitive factors (thoughts) and affective factors (feelings) and affective-cognitive factors (mood) as integral constituents of the six-stage information search process. Thoughts determine the valence of feelings (positive or negative), while mood opens or closes the range of possibilities in a search. Nahl’s taxonomic model defines the affective and cognitive factors as components of a biologically determined process serving the ends of adaptation to information ecology. The interplay of the above factors is conceptualized by focusing on their mutual roles in the cognitive and affective appraisal of information. Research limitations/implications – The findings are based on the comparison of two models only. Originality/value – So far, information scientists have largely ignored the study of the interplay between affective and cognitive factors in information seeking and use. The findings indicate that the examination of these factors together rather than separately holds a good potential to elaborate the holistic picture of information seeking and use.

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