Information needs and Information Seeking Behavior of Users of the Regional Information Center for Science and Technology (RICeST): A Quantitative and Qualitative Approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Research Department of evaluation and resource development, Regional Information Center for Science and Technology (RICeST), Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess the information needs and information seeking behavior of the users of the Regional Science and Technology Information Center (RICEST).
Methods: The study applied both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection as a mixed-method. Two hundred thirty-four users participated in the survey and four librarians were interviewed.
Results: The findings show that the most information needs of the users were related to scientific activities, writing articles and dissertations, and performing job duties, respectively. The full text of the articles in the RICEST database, more up-to-date scientific sources, reliable sources in non-scientific subjects were among the other needs of the users. Despite the access to resources, more than half of the users faced obstacles in meeting their information needs. The lack of required resources and suitable guide in the database of RICEST and the lack of familiarity with the type and coverage of resources were the most important obstacles. From the users' point of view, Persian scientific publications were evaluated at good quality and other information sources were evaluated at the average level. The findings of the qualitative section showed that the users' needs are in two categories of services and information resources. On the one hand, the librarians considered the obstacles facing the users to be related to the lack of sufficient mastery of the English language, the lack of ability to find information and research methods, and on the other hand, they considered the lack of equipment to serve users with physical or movement problems.
Conclusions: This study showed that most information needs of the users of the RICeST are related to their scientific research activities, and their information seeking behaviors are affected by these needs. Despite the range and coverage of the information sources indexed in the RICeST database, most of the users have difficulty in accessing the information. To effectively meet users’ information needs, it is necessary to carry out needs assessment studies periodically in the Regional Information Center for Science and Technology (RICeST).

Keywords

References

AmirAmini Khalafloo, M. & Bayat, P. (2018). Investigation of information seeking behavior of students of Bushehr Jahad Agriculture Training Center and providing solutions for its improvement. Agricultural Education Administration Research, 10(44), 42-54. (In Persian)
Asemi, A., Rajaeepour, S., Oraee, N. & Mirzae, A. A. (2013). A Survey of Information Seeking Behavior of Graduate Students of Islamic Azad University: Najaf Abad Branch. Journal of Information Systems and Services, 2(3), 13-26. (In Persian)
Azami M, Davarpanah M. (2013). The information needs and information seeking behaviours in Iran a review of researches. Journal of Management and Medical Informatics School, 1(1), 65-79. (In Persian)
Babaie, M. (2007). Information Needs Assessment. Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology. (In Persian)
Balog, K., Badurina, B., & Lisek, J. (2018). Information behaviour of electrical engineering and computing doctoral students and their perception of the academic library’s role: A case study in Croatia. Libri, 68 (1), 13-32.
Barzegar, S., Dadashi, B. & Hosseini Ahangar, S. A. (2013). Identification of Information Needs Islamic Azad University Students of Ghaemshahr and the Role of Library to Meet in. Journal of Information Systems and Servivices, 2(3), 65-78. (In Persian)
Bidaki, R., Mashaei, N. & Moosavi, M. (2012). Needed information of faculty members in Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Zahedan Journal Research Methodology Science, 13(10), 35. (In Persian)
Case, D. O. (2002). Looking for information: A survey of research on information seeking, needs, and behavior. Amsterdam: Academic Press.
Darzi, S. (2011). A Survey on information behavior of post-graduate students in using electronic resources at Mazandaran University. Journal of knowledge Studies, 4(12), 17-25. (In Persian)
Davarpanah, M. R., Fattahi, R. & Poormousa, R. (2014). Attitudes of Academic Library Managers towards Factors Affecting Information Needs Assessment. Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc), 29(4), 931-948. (In Persian)
Ganji, S., Dayani, M. H. & Fooroughi, F. (2010). Investigation of information needs and information-seeking behavior of faculty members of Razi University of Kermanshah (2007). Library and Information Sciences, 12(4), 73-96. (In Persian)
Genabzadeh, R. (1999). A survey on user’s satisfaction from Eric CD-ROM available in the regional library of science and technology (RLST) of Shiraz. Unpublished master’s Thesis, Shirza University. (In Persian)
Ghasemi, S. & Davarpanah, M. R. (2016). A Survey of Professional and Non-professional Information Needs of Faculty Members Based on the Cognitive Work Analysis Framework: A Case Study of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Library and Information Science, 6(1), 186-202. (In Persian)
Glaser, B. & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.
Gordon, I.D., Cameron, B.D., Chaves, D. & Hutchinson, R. (2020). Information seeking behaviors, attitudes, and choices of academic mathematicians. Science & Technology Libraries, 39(3).253-280. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2020.1758284
Hashemzadeh, M. J. & Faramarzi, M. (2016). An Inquiry in the Information Needs of Iran’s South Khorasan Public Library Users by Means of Hill’s Model. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries, 22(3), 425-449. (In Persian)
Howlader, A. I., & Islam, M. A. (2019). Information-seeking behaviour of undergraduate students: A developing country perspective. IFLA Journal, 45(2), 140-156. https://doi.org/10.1177/0340035219842312
Humbhi, S., Tareen, S. A. &  Humbhi, A. (2022). Information needs and information-seeking behavior of undergraduate students: A remote area perspective. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 6838.
Joulahi, L., Tabatabee, S. M. & Khademi-Kalantari, K. (2014). Determining the information needs of Faculty members and post-graduate students at Rehabilitation Faculty of Shahid Beheshti of Medical University-2011(1390). Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 3(1), 42-50. (In Persian)
Kahouei, M. & Alaie, S. (2012). The survey of information needs and the use of information resources among nursing students in emergency clinical education. Iranian Journal of Nursing Research, 7(24), 62-71. (In Persian)
Kumar, S. & Shukla, P. (2013). Information seeking pattern in electronic environment of sciences and arts researchers: A comparative study. Brazilian journal of information science, 7(1), 57-66. https://doi.org/10.36311/1981-1640.2013.v7n1.05.p57
Latifi, M. & Asareh, F. (2010). Determining the information needs of post-graduate students at Bu-Ali Sina University with emphasis on available electronic databases. Library and Information science and Information Technology, 3(9), 63-76. (In Persian)
Makinde, O. B. (2018). Information needs and information seeking behavior of researchers in an Industrial Research Institute in Nigeria. Doctoral dissertation, University of South Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/25071
Manjunath, N. & Babu, K. S. (2018) Information needs and information seeking behaviour of research scholars in Bangalore University: A Survey. International Journal of Library and Information Studies, 8(1), 332-342.
Marchionini, G. (1995). Information seeking in electronic environments. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Mehraban Jovini, S., Hasoomi, T. & Koochaki, A. (2009). A Study on the Nanotechnology Researchers’ Information Needs and Information Retrieval Behavior. Journal of Educational Management Innovations, 4(3), 118-132. (In Persian)
Mirzaei, E., Hariri, N. & Matlabi, D. (2020). A Meta-analysis of the factors affecting information seeking behavior in Iran and the world. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries, 26(3),415-438. (In Persian)
Mustafa, M. (2013). A study of information needs and seeking behavior of faculty members of Darul Ihsan University in Bangladesh. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 983. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/983/
Naeimi, J., Mohamad Esmaeeli, S. & Heidari, H. (2018). The Assessment of Information–Seeking Behavior of Khorasan Razavi Seminary Students with Neural Network Approach. Sciences and Techniques of Information Management, 4(1), 91-118. (In Persian)
Nasr, A. R. & Karimi, S. (2013). Interview data analysis methods. The Quality of Research in Humanities, 7, 71-94. (In Persian)
Norouzi Chakoli, A. (2006). Main factors and factors in the behavior of information seekers, Library and Information Sciences, 33, 95-115. (In Persian)
Nwone, S., & Mutula, S. (2018). Information seeking behaviour of the professoriate in selected federal universities in southwest Nigeria. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 84(1). 20-34
Ogaba, C.O. (2012). Information seeking behaviour of final year law students in South-Western Nigerian universities. Information and Knowledge Management, 3(5), 1-27.
Ozan Ucak, N. & Kurbanoglu, S. S. (1998). Information Seeking and Information behavior of at a Turkish Univerdity. Retrieved 10 Jun, 2019, from https://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla64/041-112e.htm
Parhamnia, F. & Farahian, M. (2021). The Inhibitors to Information Seeking Behavior of Nursing Students in General English and ESP Courses from University Instructors’ Perspective: A Case Study. Scientific Journal of Education Strategies in Medical Sciences, 14 (3),120-129. (In Persian)
Parveaz, S., & Khan, A. (2022). Understanding information seeking behavior of users in academic context (A critical review of literature). The Electrochemical Society. 107(1), 73-96. https://dx.doi.org/10.1149/10701.9673ecst
Rafiei Moghadam, F., Bozorgi, A. S. & Gharibi, R. (2017). A Survey Status of Public Libraries Resources and Services in Tehran City from The Perspective of Blind and Low Vision Users. Journal of knowledge Studies, 10(38), 53-65. (In Persian)
Rahimianfar, A. A., Hakimian, R. & Salimi, T. (2013). Assessment of information seeking behavior of nurses in academic hospitals of Yazd. Journal of Health Information Management, 10(5), 706-713. (In Persian)
Ramazanghorbani, M., Dehghani, M., Sadeghian, F. & Ghasemzadeh, H. (2015). Information needs and information seeking behavior and related factors in Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Journal of Modern Medical Information Sciences, 1(2), 12-21. (In Persian)
Rezvani, M. R. & Eslami, A. (2012). A Survey on information needs of the students of Geography College of Tehran University and the role of the library to supply them. Journal of knowledge Studies, 5(17), 23-37. (In Persian)
Riahi, A. (2017). Information behaviors and information seeking of nursing students of Mazandaran University of Medical Science. Journal of Medical Education and Development, 12 (3),195-211. (In Persian)
Shirshahi, S., Tavosi, M. & Riahinia, N. (2022). Analysis of Relationship between Online Health Information Seeking Behavior with Occupation, Age and Education of the Graduates of Iranian Universities. Journal of Health Information Management ,19(2), 88-95. (In Persian)
Sin, S. C. J., & Kim, K. S. (2013). International students’ everyday life information seeking the informational value of social networking sites. Library & Information Science Research, 35, 107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2012.11.006
Vaezi, R., Noorafroz, A. (2009). Information Need Assessment of students at faculty of Management and Accounting of Allameh Tabatabaie University and the Role of Library in Addressing those Needs. Iranian Journal of Information Processing & Management, 24(2), 65-88. (In Persian)
Vakkari, P. (2008). Trends and approaches in information behavior research. Information Research, 13(4), 13-14. http://InformationR.net/ir/13-4/paper361.html
Varnaseri, A., Fahimnia F. & Fahimifar, S. (2010). Information Needs Assessment of Departments Managers of Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences Commission of Tehran University and Tarbiat Modarres University. Academic Librarianship and Information Research, 54(4), 93-112. (In Persian)
Vera, O. N., Ojukwu, N. N. & Deborah, M. (2015). A comparative study of information seeking behaviour of researchers in Nigeria libraries: librarians perceptive. International Journal of Academic Research and Reflection, 3 (4), 76-88.
Wilson, T.D & Streatfield, D.R. (2000). Human information behavior. Special Issue on Information Science Research, 3 (2), 50-57. https://doi.org/10.28945/576
Academic Librarianship and Information Research
Volume 57, Issue 2
June 2023
Pages 1-22

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics