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Factors Affecting the Information-seeking Behavior of Scientists in the Los Banos Science Community (LBSC)
Abstract:
This study was conducted to determine the general informationseeking behavior of scientists in the Los Banos Science Community (LBSC) and the factors that influenced such behavior. Specifically, it sought to: 1) find out the information-seeking behavior of LBSC scientists, especially with regard to S & T information; 2) describe the scientists' preferences for specific sources of information; 3) determine the factors affecting their use of new information technologies; and 4) formulate recommendations to help improve the information services in Los Banos to best serve the unique information needs of Filipino scientists.
A total of 146 researchers from the LBSC were interviewed from May to July 1995. The respondents were randomly selected from lists provided by their institutions through the proportional sampling method. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, while the significance of relationships between variables were tested using chi-square analysis at five percent level of significance.
Results showed that the majority of the respondents (82.2%) still relied on traditional methods of information seeking (i.e., going to the library or consulting informal sources like colleagues). In general, most respondents (82%) preferred to use formal sources of information to obtain information for their research. The most preferred formal sources were journals, research reports, conference proceedings, books, and theses. Some respondents (9.6%) also preferred to use informal sources, especially for solving specific problems they encountered in their research, preferring to use personal contacts and exchanges during meetings, conferences, and seminars.
Only a few respondents(4.1%) preferred to use information services over both formal and informal sources of information.
The majority of the respondents (90.4%) were aware of the new information technology available in Los Banos. However, only 60.3 percent actually used information technology for their research. E-mail (39. 7%). CD-ROM (38.4%), online databases (34.4%), and microforms (19.9%) headed the list of information technology used by the respondents.
Moreover, the majority of them (93%) had no formal training in the use of information technology. Nevertheless, the majority (80%) were computer literate.
The following factors were found to be significantly related to general information-seeking behavior: training in the use of information technology; awareness of currently available infotech; type of information seeker; technological literacy; reading habits; field of specialization; years of research experience; number of research projects completed; number of articles published; participation in conferences, training, or seminars; perception of the availability, cost of use, and complexity of the infotech; accessibility of the infotech; age; and place of education/training.
Awareness of available infotech, technological literacy, accessibility of the infotech, perception of complexity of tools, and age were found to have significant relationship with the use of new information technology. Motivations for seeking information for research were not significantly related to any aspect of information-seeking behavior.