• Title/Summary/Keyword: Information Seeking and Use

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Cognitive Biases and Their Effects on Information Behaviour of Graduate Students in Their Research Projects

  • Behimehr, Sara;Jamali, Hamid R.
    • Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.18-31
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    • 2020
  • Cognitive biases can influence human information behaviour and decisions made in information behaviour and use. This study aims to identify the biases involved in some aspects of information behaviour and the role they play in information behaviour and use. Twenty-five semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted in an exploratory qualitative study with graduate (MA and PhD) students who were at the stage of their dissertation/thesis research. Eisenberg & Berkowitz Big6TM Skills for Information Literacy was adopted as a framework for interviews and the analysis was done using grounded theory coding method. The findings revealed the presence of twenty-eight biases in different stages of information behaviour, including availability bias (affects the preference for information seeking strategies), attentional bias (leads to biased attention to some information), anchoring effect (persuades users to anchor in special parts of information), confirmation bias (increases the tendency to use information that supports one's beliefs), and choice-supportive bias (results in confidence in information seeking processes). All stages of information seeking were influenced by some biases. Biases might result in a lack of clarity in defining the information needs, failure in looking for the right information, misinterpretation of information, and might also influence the way information is presented.

Associations of Self-rated Health and Socioeconomic Status with Information Seeking and Avoiding Behavior among Post-Treatment Cancer Patients

  • Jung, Minsoo
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.5
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    • pp.2231-2238
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    • 2014
  • This study investigated how self-rated health and socioeconomic status are associated with behaviour of cancer survivors regarding desire for information. For this association, we compared survivors who did not seek information about cancer with those who did. We examined how sociodemographic, socioeconomic, cancerrelated, and health information factors are associated with self-rated health (SRH) by health information seeking/avoiding behavior in a survey of 502 post-treatment cancer patients. In the information seeking group, all four factors exhibited significant relationships with SRH. SRH values were significantly high for women (p<0.05), non-Hispanic White (p<0.05), and educated (p<0.01) participants, and for those who had high self-efficacy to use health information by themselves (p<0.01). Furthermore, in the information avoiding group, not only were there no significant relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and SRH, but there were negative associations between their attitude/capacity and the SRH. In terms of communication equity, the promotion of information seeking behavior can be an effective way to reduce health disparities that are caused by social inequalities. Information avoiding behavior, however, does not exhibit a negative contribution toward the relationship between SRH and SES. Information seeking behavior was positively associated with SRH, but avoiding behavior was not negatively associated. We thus need to eliminate communication inequalities using health intervention to support information seeking behavior, while simultaneously providing support for avoiders.

Information Seeking in Context: Content Analysis of Information Search by College Students (맥락에 따르는 정보추구: 대학생의 과제 관련 정보탐색의 내용분석)

  • 윤정옥
    • Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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    • v.35 no.2
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    • pp.199-218
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    • 2004
  • The purpose of this study is to examine the emotional and behavioral characteristics of information seeking of university students in context in which a class assignment should be completed. An attempt was made to understand better individualized and selective behavior observed while seeking information in the commonly defined context. Data was collected from content analysis of self-reports by 54 university students majoring in library and information science. Major findings were analyzed in relation to the preception and feelings over, and barriers and strategies of seeking information, and the use of information resources.

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Trends of Web-based OPAC Search Behavior via Transaction Log Analysis (트랜잭션 로그 분석을 통한 웹기반 온라인목록의 검색행태 추이 분석)

  • Lee, Sung-Sook
    • Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.209-233
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    • 2012
  • In this study in order to verify the overall information seeking behavior of the Web-based OPAC users, it was analyzed transaction log file for 7 years. Regarding Web-based OPAC information seeking behavior, it was studied from the perspective of information seeking strategy and information seeking failure. In search strategy, it was analyzed search type, search options, Boolean operator, length of search text, number of uses of word, number of use Web-based OPAC, number of use by time, by week day. Also, in search failure, search failure ratio, search failure ratio by search options, search failure ratio by Boolean operator were analyzed. The result of this study is expected to be utilized for OPAC system and service improvement in the future.

Impact of Lifestyles of Cultural Center Users in Discount Stores on the Store Usage Intention: Mediating Effect of Shopping Value (대형마트부설 문화센터 이용고객의 라이프스타일 유형이 대형마트 이용의도에 미치는 영향: 쇼핑가치의 매개효과)

  • Lee, Gi-Hwang;Kim, Sang-Cheol;Kim, Pan-Jin
    • Journal of Distribution Science
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    • v.13 no.10
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    • pp.83-91
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    • 2015
  • Purpose - The purpose of this study is to identify whether the operation of cultural centers in discount stores contributes to their profitability. Thus, this study is aimed at exploring how the lifestyles of customers who use the cultural centers influence their intention to use the discount stores. Specifically, the effect of shopping value on the correlation between the lifestyle types and usage intention of the customers were examined through a structured research model. To verify the effect, a survey on 139 customers of the Cultural Center of Nonghyup Hanaro Club's S branch was conducted and the valid questionnaires were used for analysis. Research design, data, and methodology - The findings are as follows. First, the lifestyles seeking self-realization had a positive effect on utilitarian value, and lifestyles seeking pop cultures had a positive effect on hedonic value. Second, the mediating effect of shopping value on the correlation between the lifestyle types and usage intention of the customers is as follows. Utilitarian value had a mediating effect only on the lifestyles seeking self-realization. In case of lifestyles seeking pop cultures, the use of Cultural Center had no effect on the intention to use the discount store. Third, an analysis of a revised research model revealed that the store usage intention of lifestyles seeking pop cultures can be enhanced by boosting the utilitarian value through hedonic value. Results - The findings suggest the following. Customers with lifestyles seeking self-realization, who value what is beneficial to them with little attention to the perceptions of others, are highly interested in the benefits they can gain from shopping. As for customers with lifestyles seeking pop cultures, they are highly likely to consume products popular in a particular culture such as new products and sports, based on financial stability they pursue. Thus, they prefer more subjective, personal experience, unlike consumers pursuing utilitarian value. Conclusions - As a result, the former pursues hedonic value gained in the process of shopping with fun and joy, rather than doing shopping with a particular purpose in mind. Therefore, Cultural Centers need to offer information that fits the lifestyles of the users so that they are more likely to use the discount stores. However, if the Cultural Centers offer unified, profit-driven products and information, just to increase their store sales, it can backfire, which occurred in the past. On the other hand, if they provide information that fits the lifestyles of the users, it can actually increase the sales. Also, the findings suggest that sophisticated marketing strategies that can boost the hedonic value of customers by linking the educational contents of Cultural Centers to actual shopping, which is beneficial to consumers, should be set and operated by discount stores. In particular, customers with lifestyles seeking self-realization can be encouraged to use the stores by making them recognize the utilitarian value. However, the use of Cultural Centers doesn't necessarily lead to higher sales among customers with lifestyles seeking pop cultures. As mentioned previously, unified marketing strategy is not as effective for Cultural Centers of large discount stores.

Information Needs and Information Seeking Behavior of Foreign Students in University of Delhi: A Survey

  • Singh, KP;Kumar, Moveen;Khanchandani, Vanita
    • International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.25-43
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    • 2015
  • The purpose of this paper is to investigate the information needs and information seeking behavior of foreign students. A survey method was used for the undertaken study. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire, self-administered to 120 foreign students (60 males & 60 females) with 88 (47 males & 41 females) returns. The research is limited to post-graduate, M.Phil. and Ph.D. foreign students in University of Delhi. It was found that post-graduate students need information regarding their program of study while research scholars need information for writing research articles and for doing their research work. Most of them seek information through the internet. Research scholars used electronic resources such as databases, e-journals and e-theses and dissertations. 88.6% of the respondents also use books for seeking information. Their use of the library is limited with complaints about library staff and too few computer terminals. The present study will be helpful in designing new systems and services for the foreign students so that their information needs can be fulfilled easily. Further, findings of the study indicate that how the library professionals should assist foreign students to accomplish their information needs.

Consumer use of social media for food risk information: Survey findings in the United States and implications for the Korean context

  • Shim, Min Sun
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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    • v.33 no.3
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    • pp.83-93
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    • 2016
  • Objectives: This study aimed (1) to share findings from the U.S. on customer use of social media for information seeking and sharing about food recall risks, and (2) to discuss the implications of the findings for the context of food safety and risk communication in Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,026 social media users aged 18 years or older in the U.S., recruited from the Knowledge Network's nationally representative panel. Results: About 26 percent of respondents used social media either to seek or share food recall information in the past year, with social networking sites being the most popular tool. With respect to social media use for information seeking, being married, perceived risk of getting foodborne diseases, and trust in Internet were significant, positive predictors; being Whites and trust in health professionals were negative predictors. Social media use for information sharing was positively associated with education, being married, foodborne disease history, and perceived risk of foodborne diseases; Whites, income, and trust in health professionals were negative predictors. Conclusions: The study gives theoretical, methodological, and practical implications for the context of food safety and risks in Korea.

Importance of End User's Feedback Seeking Behavior for Faithful Appropriation of Information Systems in Small and Medium Enterprises (중소기업 환경에서의 합목적적 정보시스템 활용을 위한 최종사용자 피드백 탐색행위의 중요성)

  • Shin, Young-Mee;Lee, Joo-Ryang;Lee, Ho-Geun
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.61-95
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    • 2007
  • Small-and-medium sized enterprises(SMEs) represent quite a large proportion of the industry as a whole in terms of the number of enterprises or employees. However researches on information system so far have focused on large companies, probably because SMEs were not so active in introducing information systems as larger enterprises. SMEs are now increasingly bringing in information systems such as ERP(Enterprise Resource Planning Systems) and some of the companies already entered the stage of ongoing use. Accordingly, researches should deal with the use of information systems by SME s operating under different conditions from large companies. This study examined factors and mechanism inducing faithful appropriation of information systems, in particular integrative systems such as ERP, in view of individuals` active feedback-seeking behavior. There are three factors expected to affect end users` feedback-seeking behavior for faithful appropriation of information systems. They are management support, peer IT champ support, and IT staff support. The main focus of the study is on how these factors affect feedback-seeking behavior and whether the feedback-seeking behavior plays the role of mediator for realizing faithful appropriation of information systems by end users. To examine the research model and the hypotheses, this study employed an empirical method based on a field survey. The survey used measurements mostly employed and verified by previous researches, while some of the measurements had gone through minor modifications for the purpose of the study. The survey respondents are individual employees of SMEs that have been using ERP for one year or longer. To prevent common method bias, Task-Technology Fit items used as the control variable were made to be answered by different respondents. In total, 127 pairs of valid questionnaires were collected and used for the analysis. The PLS(Partial Least Squares) approach to structural equation modeling(PLS-Graph v.3.0) was used as our data analysis strategy because of its ability to model both formative and reflective latent constructs under small-and medium-size samples. The analysis shows Reliability, Construct Validity and Discriminant Validity are appropriate. The path analysis results are as follows; first, the more there is peer IT champ support, the more the end user is likely to show feedback-seeking behavior(path-coefficient=0.230, t=2.28, p<0.05). In other words, if colleagues proficient in information system use recognize the importance of their help, pass on what they have found to be an effective way of using the system or correct others' misuse, ordinary end users will be able to seek feedback on the faithfulness of their appropriation of information system without hesitation, because they know the convenience of getting help. Second, management support encourages ordinary end users to seek more feedback(path-coefficient=0.271, t=3.06, p<0.01) by affecting the end users' perceived value of feedback(path-coefficient=0.401, t=6.01, p<0.01). Management support is far more influential than other factors that when the management of an SME well understands the benefit of ERP, promotes its faithful appropriation and pays attention to employees' satisfaction with the system, employees will make deliberate efforts for faithful appropriation of the system. However, the third factor, IT staff support was found not to be conducive to feedback-seeking behavior from end users(path-coefficient=0.174, t=1.83). This is partly attributable to the fundamental reason that there is little support for end users from IT staff in SMEs. Even when IT staff provides support, end users may find it less important than that from coworkers more familiar with the end users' job. Meanwhile, the more end users seek feedback and attempt to find ways of faithful appropriation of information systems, the more likely the users will be able to deploy the system according to the purpose the system was originally meant for(path-coefficient=0.35, t=2.88, p<0.01). Finally, the mediation effect analysis confirmed the mediation effect of feedback-seeking behavior. By confirming the mediation effect of feedback-seeking behavior, this study draws attention to the importance of feedback-seeking behavior that has long been overlooked in research about information system use. This study also explores the factors that promote feedback-seeking behavior which in result could affect end user`s faithful appropriation of information systems. In addition, this study provides insight about which inducements or resources SMEs should offer to promote individual users' feedback-seeking behavior when formal and sufficient support from IT staff or an outside information system provider is hardly expected. As the study results show, under the business environment of SMEs, help from skilled colleagues and the management plays a critical role. Therefore, SMEs should seriously consider how to utilize skilled peer information system users, while the management should pay keen attention to end users and support them to make the most of information systems.

Library Service Users' Information Seeking Behavior Model Based on the Grounded Theory Methodology (근거이론방법론을 바탕으로 한 도서관서비스 이용자의 정보추구행태모델 제안)

  • Lee, Seong-Sin
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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    • v.44 no.1
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    • pp.5-28
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    • 2010
  • This study analyzed the characteristics of library service users' information seeking behavior based on the grounded theory methodology. After interviewing twelve undergraduate students, the researcher coded the data based on the grounded theory methodology. As a result of the entire coding processes, this study constructed the library service users' information seeking behavior model. According to the model, the following ten factors are important when explaining library service users' information seeking behavior: the information users' environment, other people, users' experiences, recognition of information sources, information provided, memory, a need-creating environment, information gathering, information use, and satisfaction and/or dissatisfaction.

The Study on Intention to Use for Social Commerce of Online Group-Buying : Focused on Chinese Users (온라인 공동구매형 소셜커머스의 이용의도에 관한 연구 : 중국 이용자를 중심으로)

  • Pang, Ying Ying;Kim, Hyun Mo;Park, Joo Seok
    • Journal of Information Technology Services
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.127-146
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    • 2017
  • The convergence of e-commerce and social media have given rise to a social commerce of online group-buying. Social commerce of online group-buying is a subset of B2C (Business to Consumer) and uses social media for marketing to facilitate online buying of products and services. The social commerce of online group-buying offers new and popular products or services every day, and uses social media to bring together separated consumers. In these backgrounds, we think that personality trait associated with seeking new and popular products or services, and social influence from social media are likely to be related to intention to use in social commerce of online group-buying. This study aims to examine and analyze novelty seeking and social influence that influence intention to use in social commerce of online group-buying in China. Our research model, which included novelty seeking and social influence, was developed based on the technology acceptance model. A questionnaire survey was carried out for empirical analysis. The results of empirical analysis based on a sample of 218 users showed that novelty seeking has a significant positive impact on intention to use, and social influence has a significant positive impact on perceived usefulness. We suggested academic implications and practical implications based on our empirical research.