posted on 2011-02-25, 15:16authored byNujoud Al-Muomen
Information technology is constantly changing, and if academic users are to make best use of these resources, they must sustain efficient information-seeking behaviour. This study explores the information-seeking behaviour of graduate students at Kuwait University, and investigates the factors influencing that behaviour. The population also includes faculty members engaged in teaching and supervising graduate students, and academic librarians. Adopting Wilson's information-seeking model (1999) as the theoretical framework, the study identifies factors influencing graduate students' information behaviour and formulates hypotheses that illustrate the relationship
between the different variables. The use of this model provides useful insights into
determinants of the information-seeking behaviour patterns of students in a multidisciplinary
graduate context.
The research uses a mixed method approach, comprising questionnaire survey, focus
groups and semi-structured interviews. Application of the Critical Incident Technique
method provided in-depth data about the patterns of information-seeking behaviour of
both graduate students and faculty members. Logistic regression revealed that
significant factors related to library awareness, information literacy, organisational
and environmental issues, source characteristics, and demographics act as
determinants of the patterns of students' information-seeking behaviour. Uneasiness
on the part of graduate students towards using the library and consulting its personnel
reflects a broader negative perception of the role of the library in shaping students'
information-searching patterns.
The clearest finding that emerged from the analysis of the students' information
literacy dimension was that the majority of graduate students still face difficulties in
finding the appropriate information resources, particularly when using resources that
need advanced search strategies. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed a
heavy reliance on the information resources that require least effort (search engines,
Internet websites, and personal contacts). Further, results revealed that graduate
students are overwhelmed by an information overload, which leads them to become
anxious about finding the appropriate information resources. Based on the results of
the research, recommendations are made to further explore the information-seeking
behaviour patterns of graduate students in order to enhance their information literacy
skills. Improving information-seeking behaviour and enhancing the information
literacy of students require interventions on various fronts: faculty members,
academic librarians, the university administration, and graduate students themselves.
A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University. Please note that there are two files attached to this record: the Thesis and Logistic Regression complete outputs (originally submitted on disc).