International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology

Research Institute for Knowledge Content Development & Technology (건국대학교 지식콘텐츠연구소)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

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

  • Received : 2015.05.22
  • Accepted : 2015.11.10
  • Published : 2015.12.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

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.

Keywords

References

  1. Arokyamary, J. R., & Ramasesh, C. P. (2009). Information Needs and Information Seeking Patterns: Perceptions of Foreign Students in the University of Mysore. Globalizing Academic Libraries Vision 2020: International Conference on Academic Libraries DULS, University of Delhi Oct. 8-12 2009. 2 (pp. 637-639). New Delhi: Mittal Publications.
  2. Battle, J. C. (2004). The Effect of Information Literacy Instruction on Library Anxiety among International Students. University of North Texas (pp. 1-143). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Available at Retrieved 2015.04.12.
  3. Catalano, A. (2013). Patterns of graduate students' information seeking behavior: a meta-synthesis of. Journal of Documentation, 69(2), 243-274.
  4. Chowdhury, G. G., & Chowdhury, S. (2011). Information Users and Usability in the Digital Age. UK: Facet Publishing.
  5. Fatima, N., & Ahmad, N. (2008). Inforamtion Seeking Behaviour of the Students at Ajmal Tibbiya College, Aligarh Muslim University: A Survey. Annals of Library and Information Studies, 55, 141. Available at Retrieved 2015.05.01.
  6. Jeong, W. (2004). Unbreakable ethnic bonds: Information-seeking behavior of Korean graduate students in the United States. Library and Information Science Research, 26(3), 384-400. Available at Retrieved 2015.09.09. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2004.04.001
  7. Kumar., S. L., & Suresh, S. (2000). Strategies for Providing Effective Reference Services for International Adult Learners. The Reference Librarian, 33, 69-70. Available at Retrieved 2015.05.03.
  8. Liao, Y., Finn, M., & Lu, J. (2007). Information Seeking behavior of international graduate students vs. Amercian graduates students: A user study at Virginia Tech. College & Research Libraries, 68(1), 5-25. Available at Retrieved 2015.09.09. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.68.1.5
  9. Mehra, B., & Bilal, D. (2008). International Students' Information Needs and Use of Technology. Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 44(1), 1-8. Available at Retrieved 2015.05.02.
  10. 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. Available at Retrieved 2015.05.01. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2012.11.006
  11. Singh, G. (2003). Information and Users: An Inquiry into the nature of designing an Effective Information System for Journalists. New Delhi: Bookwell.
  12. Singh, K. P., & Satija, M. P. (2006). A Review of Research on Information Seeking Behaviour of Agricultural Scientists: International Perspectives. DJLIT, 26(2), 25-36.
  13. Tong, V., Raynor, D. K., & Aslani, P. (2014). Gender differences in health and medicine information seeking behavior: A Review. Journal of the Malta College of Pharmacy Practice, (20) 14. Available at Retrieved 2015.09.19.
  14. Yi, Z. (2007). International students perceptions of information needs and use. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 33(6), 666-673. Available at Retrieved 2015.09.09. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2007.09.003