Information-Seeking Behavior: Comparing Business and Engineering Students in Tertiary Education

1. Information Seeking Behaviour: A Comparison Between Business and Engineering Students in Tertiary EnvironmentsHula Kahlal – S3236327Supervisor: Dr. Mary Carroll

2. Topic Selection: • Information available on the web • Debates about Information Seeking Behaviour • Investigate the presence of the academic library

3. Methodology: • Online survey using SurveyMonkey.com • Target: Business and Engineering students • Desired no. Of respondents = 40 • Actual no. Of respondents = 42 • Desired time limit to respond = 7-10 days • Actual time taken = 3-4 weeks

4. Challenges faced: • Software’s useful features need to be paid for • Survey errors discovered • Collecting responses • A variety of information available on the web • Some participants found the survey a little confusing

5. Research Findings: • Age of Participants:

6. Research Findings: Methods used to search for information for a university task • Business students • Primary source Google and other search engines • Secondary source Databases & library e-materials • Last option Library hard copy resources • Engineering students • Primary source Materials given by academics • Secondary source Google and other search engines • Last option Library hard copy resources

7. Research Findings: The use of Google and other search engines • Business students • Students always formulate key words using the question given • Students often scan through the information found to decide its relevance • Sometimes, some students copy the information found into their paper; others, rarely or never do so.

8. Research Findings: The use of Google and other search engines • Engineering students • Students always develop more keywords as they proceed with their searching process • Some students often formulate the answer in their own words, others tend to copy the information into their work • Students rarely or never narrow down their result list

9. Research Findings: The use of the academic library • Business students • 40% of participants were not fully familiar with the services the library offers • 40% were familiar enough with how the library materials are organised • 60% rarely or never look for materials written by a specific author • 60% sometimes ask for the help of a librarian to find relevant resources • 45% end up using library hard copy materials in their work

10. Research Findings: The use of the academic library • Engineering students • 42% of participating students are sometimes familiar with the services the library offers • 38% are sometimes familiar with how the materials are organised in the library • 67% rarely or never look for materials written by a specific author • 48% rarely or never ask for the help of a librarian to find relevant information • 38% often go to the library, hoping for the best • 48% sometimes end up using library materials in their work

11. Research Findings: Feelings associated with ISP • Business students

12. Research Findings: Feelings associated with ISP • Engineering students:

13. Conclusions: • Aim: to reveal any common patterns between Business and Engineering students Does subject specialisation affect the way students search for information? • Research findings supported the current literature • Common patterns were evident

14. References: • Barnes K, Ferries S & Marateo R 2007, ‘Teaching and Learning with the Net Generation’, Innovate journal of online education, vol. 5, no. 6, viewed 2 March 2011, http://innovateonline.info/pdf/vol3_issue4/Teaching_and_Learning_with_the_Net_Generation.pdf • Kozma, R 2003, ‘ICT AND EDUCATIONAL CHANGE’, technology innovation AND educational change a global perspective, 1st edition,International Society for Technology in Education, Oregon USA, viewed 2 March 2011, http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=7IWcRIpY3JYC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=technology+and+education&ots=jz-IW444N_&sig=q-TYETaF3_0NYCnlcEyn73fIGS4#v=onepage&q=technology%20and%20education&f=false • Kuhlthau, C.C 2010, Information Search Process, Rutgers School of Communication and Information, viewed 2 march 2011, http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~kuhlthau/information_search_process.htm • Kuhlthau, CC, HeinstrÖm, J. & Todd, RJ 2008, ‘The 'information search process' revisited: is the model still useful?’ Information Research,vol. 13, no. 4, viewed 2 March 2011, http://InformationR.net/ir/13-4/paper355.html • Lippincott, J.K, Net Generation Students and Libraries, Educause, viewed 2 March 2011, http://www.educause.edu/Resources/EducatingtheNetGeneration/NetGenerationStudentsandLibrar/6067 • Nicholas, D, Rowlands, I, Clark, D & Williams, P 2011, ‘Google Generation II: web behaviour experiments with the BBC’, Aslib Proceedings: New Information Perspectives, vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 28-45, 2 March 2011, Emerald • Oblinger D.G & Oblinger J.L 2005, ‘Technology and the Learning Expectations of the Net Generation’, Educating the Net Generation, Educause, Washington DC, USA, viewed 2 March 2011, http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/pub7101b.pdf • Tapscott, D 2009, ‘Research methods, teams and acknowledgments’, Grown up digital, The Mc-Graw Hill companies, New York USA, viewed 2 Mach 2011, http://books.google.com.au/books?id=DWlIY1PxkyYC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false • Timmers, C & Glas, C 2010, ‘Developing scales for information-seeking behaviour’, Journal of Documentation, vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 46-69, viewed 2 March 2011, Emerald • Wislon, T.D 1981, ‘On user studies and information needs’, Journal of Librarianship, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 3-15, viewed 2 March 2011, http://informationr.net/tdw/publ/papers/1981infoneeds.html • Wislon, T.D 1999, ‘Models of information searching behaviour research’, Journal of Documentation, vol. 55, no.3, pp. 249-270, viewed 2 March 2011, http://informationr.net/tdw/publ/papers/1999JDoc.html