Information-seeking behavior of social sciences scholars

a nigerian case study

Autores

  • Oluyomi Oluleke Folorunso

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36311/1981-1640.2015.v9n1.07.p107

Palavras-chave:

Information-seeking behavior, social sciences scholars, information sources, electronic information resources, NISER, Library.

Resumo

Information-seeking behavior is one of the most important areas of user studies and a concept affected by many factors. Previous researches in these areas indicate that the information-seeking practices of scholars are dependent on their field of research, and vary from one discipline to another. This paper examines the information-seeking behavior of scholars in the social sciences, based on the premise that information-seeking behavior follows universally applicable stages and patterns worldwide. The study was conducted at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER). Fifty eight active social sciences scholars were interviewed via a questionnaire about their information sources for research and consultancy purposes, their preference for electronic or printed formats, their use of electronic or Internet resources, and how they meet or satisfy their information needs, among others. Results show that journals and books were the most preferred information sources, and a large majority of scholars “regularly” used electronic information resources for their research and consultancy needs. The findings of the study also demonstrate diverse usage patterns for electronic information resources among users of different academic ranks and age range. Based on the research findings, the author provides suggestions on how current information services and products can be improved to better serve the users. The author also makes recommendations for improving library services and technologies to better meet the information needs of social sciences scholars in general.

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Biografia do Autor

  • Oluyomi Oluleke Folorunso

    O Laboratório Editorial foi instituído com o objetivo de criar condições e oportunidades para a difusão de pesquisas e tornar públicos os resultados dos trabalhos do corpo docente da FFC. Constitui-se num órgão adjunto à Diretoria da FFC e vinculado à SAEPE, com o apoio da Seção Gráfica, da Diretoria, da Biblioteca, e das Seções de Finanças, Compras e Técnica Acadêmica. A função do Laboratório Editorial é a de assessorar, planejar, realizar e distribuir livros, periódicos e outras publicações elaboradas na FFC.

    E-mail: labeditorial@marilia.unesp.br 

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Publicado

2015-08-10

Edição

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Artigos

Como Citar

Folorunso , Oluyomi Oluleke. “Information-Seeking Behavior of Social Sciences Scholars: A Nigerian Case Study”. Brazilian Journal of Information Science: Research Trends, vol. 9, nº 1, agosto de 2015, https://doi.org/10.36311/1981-1640.2015.v9n1.07.p107.