The Research Habits of Graduate Students and Faculty

2011 ◽  
pp. 46-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Matteson
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Scholarly Communication ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
The Way

The work of faculty and graduate students is information intensive. These researchers make heavy use of particular types of resources to support their research, teaching, scholarly communication, and current awareness. They less frequently use traditional types of reference sources, however, raising questions of why that might be and what should be done about it. This chapter examines the research practices of graduate students and faculty to understand their information needs, their information seeking strategies and the information sources they use. It also looks more specifically at researchers’ uneven use of reference sources and discusses reasons why these practices exist. An argument is made that changes must be made to the types of reference sources available to researchers, and that academic librarians must change the way they promote these resources to their constituents.

scholarly journals “I actually got my first job through my ex-colleague”: Employment-related information seeking behavior of Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada

2021 ◽  
pp. 096100062199280
Author(s):  
Nafiz Zaman Shuva
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Immigrant Professionals ◽  
Government Of Canada ◽  
First Job

This study explores the employment-related information seeking behaviour of Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 60 Bangladeshi immigrants in Ontario, Canada, and obtained 205 survey responses. The study highlights the centrality of employment-related settlement among Bangladeshi immigrants in Ontario and reports many immigrants not being able to utilize their education and skills after arrival in Canada. The results show that Bangladeshi immigrants utilize various information sources for their employment in Canada, including friends and professional colleagues, online searchers, and settlement agencies. Although Bangladeshi immigrants utilized a large array of information sources for meeting their employment-related information needs, many interview participants emphasized that the employment-related benefits they received was because of their access to friends and professional colleagues in Canada. The survey results echoed the interview findings. The cross-tabulation results on post-arrival information sources and occupation status as well as first job information sources and occupational status in Canada show a significant association among the use of the information source “friends and professional colleagues in Canada” and immigrants’ occupational status. The study highlights the benefits of professional colleagues among immigrants in employment-related settlement contexts. It also reports the challenges faced by many immigrant professionals related to employment-related settlement because of the lack of access to their professional friends and colleagues in Canada. The author urges the Federal Government of Canada, provincial governments, and settlement agencies working with newcomers to offer services that would connect highly skilled immigrants with their professional networks in Canada, in order to get proper guidance related to obtaining a professional job or alternative career. The author calls for further studies on employment-related information seeking by immigrants to better understand the role information plays in their settlement in a new country.

The information needs and behaviour of the Egyptian elderly living in care homes: An exploratory study

IFLA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 034003522199156
Author(s):  
Essam Mansour
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Average Income ◽  
Information Awareness ◽  
Medical Health ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Elderly Living

The purpose of this study is to investigate the information-seeking behaviour of the Egyptian elderly, including their information needs. A sample of 63 elderly people living in care homes was taken. It was divided into five focus groups. Of the 63 elderly people, 40 were men (63.5%) and 23 women (36.5%). Almost half (47.6%) ranged in aged from 61 to 70. About a quarter (23%) of them held a high school diploma. The highest percentage (28.6%) was labelled as average-income people. The highest percentage (60.3%) was also found to be widows or widowers. The types of information used most by the Egyptian elderly related to physical, medical/health, social, rational and recreational needs. Their information sources varied between formal and informal sources. Nearly two-thirds (63.5%) of them showed that limited knowledge, lack of interest, poor information awareness, aging, loneliness and health problems were the most significant obstacles they faced when seeking information.

scholarly journals Information seeking behaviors, attitudes, and choices of academic mathematicians

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian D. Gordon ◽  
Brian D. Cameron ◽  
Debbie Chaves ◽  
Rebecca Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Perceived Success ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

Mathematicians in academic institutions utilize a variety of resources and strategies to seek, find, and use scholarly information and news. Using a sample of mathematicians, researchers surveyed 112 students and faculty at four Canadian university institutions to explore self-perceived success rates, resources consulted, databases used, use of social media, and citation management systems. Further, 12 follow-up interviews were completed with mathematicians to better interpret survey results, resulting information-seeking behaviors, choices, strategies, and feelings on keeping up to date with information needs. According to survey results, a minority of mathematicians (12.5 percent) acknowledged that they were successfully keeping up to date. However, a significant number of mathematicians (28.6 percent) indicated that they were unsuccessful and could do better in remaining current with information needs. Co-investigators, using qualitative analyses, identified four emergent themes related to remaining current: (1) The “slower pace of math” pervades all aspects of this discipline;” (2) There are “too many papers – and not enough time” to effectively search, evaluate, and read scholarly papers of interest; (3) Mathematicians collectively acknowledge that they are open to strategies and technologies where they “could do better” keeping up to date; and (4) Mathematicians have divided loyalties using databases when searching for information by means of “MathSciNet in a Google world.” Additional insights document how mathematicians are guided by mathematical peculiarities and discipline-specific practices. This study helps to shed light on opportunities for academic librarians to identify and meet mathematicians’ evolving information needs. Keywords: Mathematicians, information-seeking behaviors, information needs, information sources, graduate students, faculty, academic (university) libraries, knowledge management

Information Seeking Behaviour of Post Graduate Students of Government Science College, Bangalore: A Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
K. V. Jayamma ◽  
G. T. Mahesh
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Post Graduate ◽  
Information Usage ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Science College ◽  
College Library

This Study was designed to examine information seeking behaviour of PG Students at Government Science College Library, Bangalore. The study intended with an aim to explore the information usage among PG students. Closed ended questionnaire was used to collect the data from respondents. A total of 200 samples out of 319 students. Among the200 hundred questionnaires distributed, 127 were completely answered and returned. The findings of this study revealed the information needs of PG students in Government Science College. The majority of students who are visiting library are females; also, the majority of the PG students are visiting library once in a week. The main purpose of the visit to the library is for accessing exam related information for their study.

Information Seeking Behavior of Users and Strategies to Overcome the Challenges in the Current Era

2013 ◽  
pp. 284-288
Author(s):  
A. Dakshayani ◽  
S. Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
User Community ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Nature Of Information ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Way

Due to the continuous research and development activities taking place in almost all the disciplines, information overload and information explosion has occurred, which in turn poses a challenge to the user community to keep up with the knowledge in their discipline. The dynamic nature of information has forced the users to change the way of seeking information. Hence, there is an immediate need for the information professionals to update the services and facilities of the library. He/she should act as a ultimate search engine and satisfy the information needs of the users. This chapter highlights the changing approach to information by the user community in the present scenario and also provides the solutions to information professionals to tackle the information expectations of the users. This chapter has been written based on the observation of library users and the way they seek information for their business requirements and research and development activities.

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 Situational relevance of music information modes

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1008-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Mikael Rousi ◽  
Reijo Savolainen ◽  
Maaria Harviainen ◽  
Pertti Vakkari
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Levels Of Abstraction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Music Information

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the picture of situational relevance of music information from a performing musician’s point of view by delving into its diverse layers within the context of Doctor of Music students’ information seeking. Design/methodology/approach Music-related information is approached through six modes that categorize music information sources based on their levels of abstraction. Situational relevance of the modes of music information is examined in relation to the situational requirements of accomplishing a dissertation on music task consisting of both a series of concerts and a written thesis. The empirical material was collected by interviewing Finnish doctoral students in the field of music performance. Findings A set of situational relevance types related to each mode of music information were identified. As a whole, the differences between the perceived importance of the modes varied a little. Research limitations/implications The goal of the present paper is not to create a generalizable list of situational relevance types suggested by modes of music information, but to show that the modes may suggest diverse situational relevance types of their own when evaluated by performing musicians. Originality/value The present paper provides a rare account on performing musicians’ vocational and school-related information seeking. For studies of music information retrieval, the present paper offers new contextual facets explaining why diverse music information could be relevant to musicians. For studies of music-related information seeking, the present study offers new insights on why performing musicians have information needs regarding certain types of music information sources.

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 Practices of Canadian Academic Chemists: A Study of Information Needs and Use of Resources in Chemistry

1997 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth L. Noble ◽  
Carol Coughlin
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Scholarly Communication ◽  
Journal Literature ◽  
Nouvelles Technologies ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
New Information

Abstract: This paper presents selected results from a survey of Canadian academic chemists carried out in March 1996. These focus on the chemists' use of the journal literature and aspects of their experience with new information technologies. A discussion of these issues as they relate to libraries and scholarly communication is included. Résumé: Cet article présente un choix de résultats obtenus lors d'un sondage effectué auprès de chimistes de certaines universités canadiennes au mois de mars 1996. Ces résultats portent sur l'utilisation des périodiques et des nouvelles technologies de l'information. L'article inclut aussi une discussion de ces sujets dans le contexte des bibliothèques universitaires et de la communication savante.

Developing a Library Collection in Bioinformatics

2013 ◽  
pp. 130-150
Author(s):  
Victoria Martin
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Scholarly Communication ◽  
Academic Programs ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Library Collection ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Academic Librarianship ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Types Of Information

This chapter provides guidelines for developing a university library collection for bioinformatics programs. The chapter discusses current research and scholarly communication trends in bioinformatics and their impact on information needs and information seeking behavior of bioinformaticians and, consequently, on collection development. It also discusses the criteria for making collection development decisions that are largely influenced by the interdisciplinary nature of the field. The types of information resources most frequently used by bioinformaticians are described, specific resources are suggested, and creative options aimed at finding ways for a bioinformatics library collection to expand in the digital era are explored. The author draws on literature in bioinformatics and the library and information sciences as well as on her ten years of experience providing bioinformatics user services at George Mason University. The chapter is geared towards practicing librarians who are charged with developing a collection for bioinformatics academic programs as well as future librarians taking courses on collection development and academic librarianship.

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