scholarly journals How COVID-19 Changed the Information Needs of Italian Citizens

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 6988
Author(s):  
Rino Falcone ◽  
Alessandro Sapienza
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Virtuous Behavior ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Role Of Information ◽  
Political Decisions

Italy was the first European country to be affected by COVID-19, facing an unprecedented situation. The reaction required drastic solutions and highly restrictive measures, which severely tested the trust of the Italian people. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of the introduced measures was not only linked to political decisions, but also to the choice of the Italian people to trust and rely on institutions, accepting such necessary measures. In this context, the role of information sources was fundamental, since they strongly influence public opinion. The central focus of this research was to assess the information seeking behavior (ISB) of the Italian citizens, to understand how they related to information and how their specific use of information influenced public opinion. By making use of a survey addressed to 4260 Italian citizens, we identified extraordinarily virtuous behavior in the population: people strongly modified their ISB in order to address the most reliable sources. In particular, we found a very high reliance on scientists, which is particularly striking, if compared to the past. Moreover, starting from the survey results, we used social simulation to estimate the evolution of public opinion. Comparing the ISB during and before COVID-19, we discovered that the shift in the ISB, during the pandemic, may have actually positively influenced public opinion, facilitating the acceptance of the costly restrictions introduced.

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.

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

2016 ◽  
pp. 983-1000
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.

scholarly journals Through the eyes of the Informationist: Identifying information needs of the Breast Imaging Service at a tertiary medical center specializing in cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio P DeRosa ◽  
Donna S Gibson ◽  
Elizabeth A Morris
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Breast Imaging ◽  
Domain Knowledge ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Seeking Behavior

The information services offered by Embedded Librarians over the years have led to the more modern—and domain knowledge-specific—role of the Informationist. A 10-point questionnaire was developed and used to interview 12 attending physicians and three fellows chosen at random. The participants are either on the research track (n = 3) or the clinical track (n = 9). A two-part schematic was also created to capture more detailed feedback about the information needs and information-seeking behavior of clinicians regarding patient care (clinical) and research activities. Bibliographic management tool use and time-related factors were also captured in the interviews and written schematics. The role of the Informationist is an emerging, yet valuable one to assigned clinical groups. Clinician’s knowledge-base, current awareness, productivity, and evidence-based care can be improved by use of Informationist services.

An explanatory study into the information seeking-behaviour of Egyptian beggars

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Essam Mansour
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Demographic Group ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Role Of Information

The key purpose of this study is to provide first-hand information about beggars in Egypt, especially from the perspective of their information-seeking behaviour including their information needs. It tries to investigate the information-seeking behaviour of Egyptian beggars with regard to their thoughts, perceptions, motivations, attitudes, habits, preferences as well as challenges that may impede their use of information. The research methods used were an adapted form of snowball sampling of a heterogeneous demographic group of participants in the beggary activity in Egypt. This sampling was used to select focus groups to explore a range of relevant issues. Data on the demographic characteristics of Egyptian beggars showed that they tend to be men, mostly with no formal education, with an average age around 30s, labelled as low-income persons, mostly single and mostly Muslims. A large number of Egyptian beggars were seeking for information to meet their basic daily needs, although some of them were not able to identify their information needs clearly. The information-seeking behaviour profile of a very large number of Egyptian beggars indicated a preference for informal sources of information over formal sources to solve different problems and meet the challenges faced during their beggary depending on assistive devices, predominantly mobile phones. The illiteracy and the lack of awareness about the basic rights of information as well as information needs were the most important difficulties Egyptian beggars face during accessing information. The study recommended that beggars’ awareness about their information rights should be promoted through educational programs that help them value the role of information in their life.

scholarly journals Reaching out for Help: Calls to a Mental Health Helpline Prior to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4505
Author(s):  
Josianne Scerri ◽  
Alexei Sammut ◽  
Sarah Cilia Vincenti ◽  
Paulann Grech ◽  
Michael Galea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Period 2 ◽  
National Mental Health ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Financial Issues

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major health crisis associated with adverse mental health consequences. This study examined 2908 calls made to a national mental health helpline over a 10 month period, 2 months prior to (Pre-COVID) and 8 months during the pandemic phase, that incorporated the imposition of a partial lockdown, followed by the removal and reintroduction of restrictive measures locally. Data collected included reason/s for call assistance, gender, age and number of daily diagnosed cases and deaths due to COVID-19. In the Pre-COVID phase, calls for assistance were related to information needs and depression. With the imposition of a partial lockdown, coupled with the first local deaths and spikes in number of diagnosed cases, a significant increase in number of calls targeting mental health, medication management and physical and financial issues were identified. Following the removal of local restrictions, the number of calls decreased significantly; however, with the subsequent reintroduction of restrictions, coupled with the rise in cases and deaths, assistance requested significantly targeted informational needs. Hence, whilst calls in the initial phase of the pandemic mainly targeted mental health issues, over time this shifted towards information seeking requests, even within a context where the number of deaths and cases had significantly risen.

Understanding destination evangelism: a social media viewpoint

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Purvendu Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Role Of Information

PurposeThe present research aims to introduce and understand the promising nature of destination evangelism in the context of social media-based tourism communities (SMTCs). Further, factors that influence evangelism and information-seeking behaviors on SMTCs are examined.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model is developed that features an interplay of destination distinctiveness, destination evangelism, travel commitment and information-seeking engagement. Data were collected from 215 active users of SMTCs and analyzed using structural equation models.FindingsThe research findings indicate that destination distinctiveness and information-seeking positively lead to destination evangelism. Information-seeking is found to mediate the relationship between (1) destination evangelism and travel commitment and (2) destination evangelism and distinctiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThe research offers meaningful insights into exploring constituents of destination evangelism. The research also understands and highlights the critical role of information-seeking engagement about distinct destinations.Practical implicationsThis research highlights key areas to build, improve and inspire destination evangelism on SMTCs.Originality/valueThis study offers a fresh contribution to tourism literature by investigating destination evangelism and its drivers. This is explained by closely uniting vital research streams of evangelism, tourism and engagement. It further highlights the dual mediating role of information seeking, suggesting that these engagements are critical to evangelizing destinations.

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