scholarly journals Critical Care Nurses on Duty: Information-Rich but Time-Poor

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Suzanne Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Critical Care Unit ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Computer Systems ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Objective – To describe critical care nurses’ on-duty information-seeking behavior. Design – Participatory action research using ethnographic methods. Setting – A twenty-bed critical care unit in a 275-bed community (non-teaching) hospital. Subjects – A purposive sample of six registered nurses (RNs) working shifts in the critical care unit. Methods – The researcher accompanied six RNs on various shifts (weekdays and weekends, day and night shifts) in the critical care unit and used participant observation and in-context interviews to record fifty hours of the subjects’ information-seeking behavior. Transcripts were written up and checked by the subjects for accuracy and validity. The resulting rich data was analyzed using open coding (concepts which emerged during data gathering, for example “nurse’s personal notes”); in vivo coding (participant-supplied concepts, for example “reading on duty”); and axial coding (hierarchical, researcher-developed concepts such as “information behaviors, information sources, information uses, and information kinds”) (147). Main results – The critical care nurses constantly sought information from people (patients, family members, other health care workers), patient records, monitors, and other computer systems and noticeboards, but very rarely from published sources such as books or online databases. Barriers to information acquisition included equipment failure, illegible handwriting, unavailable people, social protocols (for example physician – nurse interaction), difficult navigation of computer systems, and mistakes caused by simultaneously using multiple complex systems. Conclusion – Critical care nurses’ information behavior is strongly patient-centric. Knowledge-based information sources are rarely consulted on duty due to time constraints and the perception that this would take time away from patient care. In seeking to meet the knowledge-based information needs of this group, librarians should be wary of traditional, academic models of information delivery. Instead, they should consider a tailored ready reference service incorporating quality and quantity filtering.

The effect of socio-demographic characteristics on the information-seeking behaviors of police officers

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idris Guclu ◽  
Ali Can
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the information-seeking behaviors of police officers who work in police stations in the context of staying current. Leckie et al.’s (1996) model of the information-seeking behavior of professionals is tested. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research design was employed for data collection. The sample includes 642 cases. It is both descriptive and exploratory. Findings – Police officers first rely upon their personal knowledge and experience, then their colleagues and then official documents. On the other hand, they rarely consulted informants, libraries, journals, books, and attendance at conferences as information sources. There were significant differences in the information sources used by police officers based on their gender in the context of staying current. Lastly, the results of this study indicated that service years in policing and the roles in police station were significantly correlated with the information sources used by police officers regarding staying current. Originality/value – This study, being the first, provides a huge theoretical base for future studies. It contributes to the discipline of information science by validating a theoretical model in a different context. In addition, it contributes to public safety by understanding the frontline police officers’ information needs and information-seeking behavior.

scholarly journals Information Needs and Seeking Behavior of Science & Technology Teachers of the University of the Punjab, Lahore

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 73-88
Author(s):  
Muzammil Tahira ◽  
Kanwal Ameen
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Quantitative Survey ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
The University

The paper focuses on enquiring the information needs and Information seeking behavior of Science and Technology (S&T) teachers of the University of the Punjab (PU). Their preferences regarding various formats of information sources (printed and electronic) and importance of formal and informal sources have been explored through quantitative survey. Self-completion questionnaire was used to reach whole population of institutions/colleges/departments of all Science and Technology faculties. Findings reveal: both libraries and e-resources are playing important role in meeting respondents' information needs; direct access to e-sources has slightly decreased the number of their visits to departmental and central libraries; and faculty spend comparatively more time on searching web sources than print sources.

scholarly journals Information-seeking behavior of social sciences scholars

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluyomi Oluleke FOLORUNSO
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Economic Research ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Electronic Information ◽  
Electronic Information Resources ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Information-seeking behavior is one of the most important areas of user studies and a concept affected by many factors. Previous researches in these areas indicate that the information-seeking practices of scholars are dependent on their field of research, and vary from one discipline to another. This paper examines the information-seeking behavior of scholars in the social sciences, based on the premise that information-seeking behavior follows universally applicable stages and patterns worldwide. The study was conducted at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER). Fifty eight active social sciences scholars were interviewed via a questionnaire about their information sources for research and consultancy purposes, their preference for electronic or printed formats, their use of electronic or Internet resources, and how they meet or satisfy their information needs, among others. Results show that journals and books were the most preferred information sources, and a large majority of scholars “regularly” used electronic information resources for their research and consultancy needs. The findings of the study also demonstrate diverse usage patterns for electronic information resources among users of different academic ranks and age range. Based on the research findings, the author provides suggestions on how current information services and products can be improved to better serve the users. The author also makes recommendations for improving library services and technologies to better meet the information needs of social sciences scholars in general.

scholarly journals Cross-Cultural Digital Information-Seeking Experiences

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 872-891
Author(s):  
Haifa Binsahl ◽  
Shanton Chang ◽  
Rachelle Bosua
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
English Language ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Use Of Information Sources

The number of Saudi female international students (SFISs) pursuing higher degrees in Western countries has increased dramatically. Many are faced with unusual challenges, especially acting without a male’s permission, interacting with males, and using an open, free Internet. This article proposes that SFISs experience a “digital shift” whereby their cultural, educational, and digital backgrounds impact their information-seeking behavior in Australia. The study used a qualitative interpretivist methodology, interviewing a diverse group of SFISs studying in Australia, to better understand this impact on their everyday information needs and use of information sources. Findings indicate that SFISs’ imperfect online search skills, exacerbated by English language deficiency, increase their challenges. Recommendations for supporting SFISs are offered for institutions and service providers.

A Comparison of the Information Needs and Information Seeking Behavior of Entrepreneurs in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Developing and Developed Countries

2014 ◽  
pp. 126-143
Author(s):  
Linda L. Lillard
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Private Sector Development ◽  
Entrepreneurial Spirit ◽  
Seeking Behavior

“Entrepreneurial spirit has been described as the most important economic development stimulus in recent decades” (Chalhoub, 2011, p. 67). In the early 1990s it was estimated that small to medium sized enterprises SMEs employed 22% of the adult population in developing countries and the role of SMEs is viewed as increasingly important in developing countries because of their capacity to create jobs (Okello-Obura, Minishi-Majanja, Cleote, & Ikoja-Odongo, 2007, p. 369). According to Lingelback, de la Viña and Asel (2005), even though entrepreneurship has been linked to wealth and poverty in developing countries and has played an important role in growth and poverty alleviation, it is the least studied significant economic and social phenomenon in the world today. Examining how the information needs and information seeking behavior of entrepreneurs from developing countries may differ from entrepreneurs in developed countries is important as it has been suggested that “entrepreneurship in developing countries is distinctive from that practice in developed countries and that understanding these distinctions is critical to private sector development in developing countries” (Lingelback, de la Vina, & Asel, 2005, p. 2). A review of the studies produced thus serves as a beginning for designing information packages and information services that can benefit a global population. Consequently, this chapter targets the information needs and information seeking behavior of entrepreneurs revealed in studies associated with SMEs in both developed and developing countries and offers conclusions and recommendations for meeting the information needs of this population.

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