Barriers to Information Access for Specialized Scholars

2014 ◽  
pp. 144-158
Author(s):  
Lisa Block
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Science Faculty ◽  
Social Science Faculty ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Developed Nations

Developing countries must overcome the obstacles to information access so that they can join the global networks of the developed world and become part of the “information age.” Studies on the information-seeking behavior and information needs of library users in developing countries are limited. This chapter examines the information-seeking behavior of social science faculty in developing nations in an attempt to explain the barriers to information access for these specialized scholars. Information users in developing countries face different challenges than users in developed nations so it is essential to understand the various obstacles that must be overcome by library and information users in developing nations. Comparisons are made to the information-seeking behaviors and information use of social science faculty in developed nations. Patterns of information-seeking behavior in social science faculty are examined and also compared to existing and proposed models of such behavior.

Barriers to Information Access for Specialized Scholars

2016 ◽  
pp. 381-396
Author(s):  
Lisa Block
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Science Faculty ◽  
Social Science Faculty ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Developed Nations

Developing countries must overcome the obstacles to information access so that they can join the global networks of the developed world and become part of the “information age.” Studies on the information-seeking behavior and information needs of library users in developing countries are limited. This chapter examines the information-seeking behavior of social science faculty in developing nations in an attempt to explain the barriers to information access for these specialized scholars. Information users in developing countries face different challenges than users in developed nations so it is essential to understand the various obstacles that must be overcome by library and information users in developing nations. Comparisons are made to the information-seeking behaviors and information use of social science faculty in developed nations. Patterns of information-seeking behavior in social science faculty are examined and also compared to existing and proposed models of such behavior.

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.

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 Information Seeking Behavior of Science Faculty: A Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 32-34
Author(s):  
Prof. Mrunal Barki ◽  
◽  
Prof. Dr. Deepak Kapade
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Science Faculty ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Contextual Factors Influencing Information Seeking Behavior of Social Scientists

2014 ◽  
pp. 190-210
Author(s):  
Mohammed Nasser Al-Suqri
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Publication Patterns ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors ◽  
The Impact

Many researchers in the area of information seeking behavior have highlighted the importance of context in influencing information-seeking behavior. However, few have elaborated on how contextual factors influence information-seeking in practice. This chapter explores the impact of disciplinary traditions of non-western, developing country external environments on patterns of information seeking and retrieval. Conditions that influence information seeking behaviors of social science scholars in non-western, developing countries impact research traditions, publication patterns, and subsequent formats are examined. This chapter draws on existing literature to examine the impact of contextual factors on information seeking by social science scholars as well as, on relevant findings based on research with other categories of researchers. The chapter concludes that there is substantial evidence from previous research to indicate the importance of contextual factors in influencing the information-seeking behavior of social scientists. Some of these factors are related to the nature of social science as a domain of study, while others are related to researcher’s external environment, including constraints on the availability of particular types of information.

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