Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB) refers to how individuals or groups search for, gather, evaluate, and use information to meet specific needs. Different user groups have varying needs, motivations, and approaches to information seeking, influenced by factors such as their background, profession, access to resources, and the context of their information needs. Understanding these differences is crucial for information professionals in designing library services, systems, and resources that cater to diverse user groups.
In this section, we explore the ISB of several key user groups, including students, researchers, professionals, library users, and the general public. Each of these groups demonstrates unique characteristics in their information-seeking behavior.
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1. Students: Information Seeking Behaviour in an Academic Context
Overview: Students, particularly those in higher education, are often focused on gathering information for academic purposes, including coursework, research projects, and exam preparation. Their ISB is shaped by academic requirements and the need to produce high-quality, credible work.
Key Characteristics of Student ISB:
Information Need: Students often seek information to solve academic problems, answer research questions, or support specific assignments. They may also seek to clarify concepts or understand complex theories.
Searching for Information: Students are likely to use online academic databases (e.g., JSTOR, Google Scholar), library catalogs, and textbooks. They also frequently engage with search engines like Google for general information.
Evaluation of Information: Students are increasingly taught to evaluate sources critically, especially for academic writing. They often struggle with distinguishing between reliable and unreliable sources, especially when using the internet.
Behavior Patterns: Students tend to use information in a structured manner, often starting with broad searches and narrowing down as they refine their understanding of the topic. They typically rely on familiar sources, such as Google or library databases, and often seek help from librarians or professors.
Example: A graduate student conducts a search on a specific topic using a university’s online library catalog, filters the results to find peer-reviewed articles, and evaluates them based on their relevance and academic rigor.
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2. Researchers: Information Seeking Behaviour for Advanced Knowledge Acquisition
Overview: Researchers, whether academic, scientific, or professional, engage in information seeking with the aim of advancing knowledge, conducting experiments, or developing new theories. Their ISB is often more complex and systematic than that of students.
Key Characteristics of Researcher ISB:
Information Need: Researchers require high-level, specialized information, often related to their area of expertise. They seek to build on existing knowledge, explore gaps in the literature, or discover new methodologies or findings.
Searching for Information: Researchers are more likely to use specialized databases (e.g., PubMed for medical research, IEEE Xplore for engineering), institutional repositories, and academic journals. They also engage in systematic literature reviews and use bibliographies and citation databases (e.g., Web of Science).
Evaluation of Information: Researchers are highly critical of sources, assessing credibility based on the author’s credentials, publication venue, and citation frequency. They emphasize peer-reviewed articles and primary sources.
Behavior Patterns: Researchers exhibit persistent and iterative ISB, refining their queries over time. They often engage in networking with colleagues and attending academic conferences to gain further insights.
Example: A biomedical researcher explores recent articles on cancer treatment in PubMed, filters results based on their relevance to the research hypothesis, and reviews citation trails to find seminal works in the field.
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3. Professionals (e.g., Lawyers, Engineers, Doctors): Information Seeking in Practice
Overview: Professionals in fields like law, medicine, and engineering seek information to apply in real-world scenarios. Their ISB often involves finding solutions to practical problems, staying up-to-date with industry developments, or ensuring compliance with regulations.
Key Characteristics of Professional ISB:
Information Need: Professionals are often seeking highly specific and actionable information. In medicine, a doctor might seek the latest treatment guidelines; in law, a lawyer may need precedents or legal statutes; and engineers may need standards or technical manuals.
Searching for Information: Professionals rely on highly specialized resources such as legal databases (e.g., LexisNexis), medical guidelines (e.g., UpToDate), and technical standards (e.g., ANSI, ISO). They also use search engines and sometimes turn to colleagues or industry experts for advice.
Evaluation of Information: Professionals prioritize reliability, timeliness, and practicality in their information evaluation. They often focus on authoritative and up-to-date sources that provide actionable information.
Behavior Patterns: Their information-seeking is often task-oriented, with clear goals. They tend to engage in brief, targeted searches rather than exploratory searches. They may also use information to support decision-making in complex, high-stakes environments.
Example: A lawyer needs to research case law related to a new environmental regulation. They search a legal database, filter by jurisdiction and date, and focus on recent rulings that are most relevant to their current case.
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4. Library Users: General Information Seeking Behaviour
Overview: Library users, encompassing a broad range of individuals, seek information for a variety of reasons—whether for leisure reading, personal growth, or educational purposes. Library users often look for both digital and physical resources.
Key Characteristics of Library User ISB:
Information Need: Library users’ needs vary widely. Some may seek information for personal knowledge, while others may be searching for academic, professional, or recreational purposes.
Searching for Information: Library users search for books, journals, magazines, and digital resources. They may use library catalogs, websites, and sometimes external search engines to find resources. Increasingly, library users access eBooks, audiobooks, and online databases.
Evaluation of Information: While some users are skilled at evaluating information, others may struggle with assessing the quality or credibility of online content. Library staff can help guide users in evaluating and selecting appropriate resources.
Behavior Patterns: Library users often engage in more leisurely and non-urgent information-seeking. They may take their time browsing, asking librarians for recommendations, or using the library’s digital platforms for more extensive research.
Example: A library patron looking for a historical novel might browse the library’s fiction section, ask a librarian for recommendations, or use an online catalog to search for a specific author.
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5. The General Public: Everyday Information Seeking
Overview: The general public, which includes non-specialists, seeks information for a wide range of everyday purposes. This group is less likely to engage in specialized searches and often looks for general knowledge, news, or entertainment.
Key Characteristics of General Public ISB:
Information Need: Information needs of the general public are often related to daily life (e.g., health information, news, directions, recipes, personal finance). They also seek information about leisure activities or social interactions.
Searching for Information: Members of the general public frequently use search engines like Google, social media platforms, and news websites to satisfy their information needs. They may also use online forums or question-and-answer platforms like Quora.
Evaluation of Information: The general public may not always critically evaluate sources, leading to the potential spread of misinformation or unreliable information. However, some may rely on trusted sources like mainstream news outlets.
Behavior Patterns: Information-seeking behavior in the general public is often spontaneous, informal, and driven by immediate needs or curiosity. They typically conduct short, direct searches and may not engage deeply with specialized or scholarly sources.
Example: A person looking for a quick recipe for dinner might perform a Google search, scan the results, and pick a recipe from a well-known food website without extensive evaluation of the source’s credibility.
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6. Conclusion
Different user groups exhibit distinct Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB) patterns depending on their context, goals, and resources. Understanding these differences is crucial for information professionals, as it helps tailor information systems, resources, and services to meet the needs of diverse users. By recognizing the unique information-seeking habits of students, researchers, professionals, library users, and the general public, libraries and information systems can design more effective interfaces, provide relevant resources, and offer targeted support to enhance the user experience.
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