Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science (한국문헌정보학회지)

Korean Society For Library And Information Science (한국문헌정보학회)
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Information Seeking Behaviors throughout the Settlement Stages among International Students in Korea

외국인 유학생의 정착단계에 따른 정보추구행위

  • 윤정원 (전북대학교 문헌정보학과)
  • Received : 2022.01.10
  • Accepted : 2022.02.03
  • Published : 2022.02.28
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Abstract

Despite the increase in the number of international students residing in Korea, there is lack of research on their Everyday Information Seeking behaviors. This study investigated the information needs and information seeking behaviors of international students in Korea according to the settlement stages (before entry, initial settlement, and present) through Critical Incident Technology (CIT). International students in Korea reported their daily life-related information needs more frequently than their academic-related information needs. International students used multiple information sources for seeking information, such as websites, social media, and friends. Compared to websites, international students demonstrated higher satisfaction with interactive sources such as social media and friends. It was found that the language barrier is the biggest difficulty that international students experience during the information seeking process. Unfamiliarity with Korean society and culture were addressed as another difficulty. Based on the understanding of international students' information needs and seeking behaviors throughout the settlement stages, recommendations for helping international students search for information in their daily life were discussed.

한국에 거주하는 외국인 유학생들의 증가에도 불구하고, 이들의 일상생활에서의 정보추구행위에 관한 연구는 미진한 상황이다. 본 연구는 한국에 거주하는 외국인 유학생들의 정착단계(입국 전, 초기정착단계, 현재)에 따른 정보요구 및 정보탐색행위를 결정적사건기법(Critical Incident Technology: CIT)을 통하여 조사하였다. 한국에 거주하는 외국인 유학생들은 일상생활과 관련된 정보요구를 학교생활 또는 학업에 관련된 정보요구보다 빈번하게 보고하였으며, 과제 등 학습과 직결된 정보요구는 현재 단계에 이르러서야 보고되었다. 유학생들은 정보요구를 해결하기 위해 웹사이트, 소셜미디어, 친구 등 여러 정보원을 사용하였다. 일방향 정보원인 웹사이트에 대하여는 부정적인 경험을 토로하는 경우가 많은 반면, 소셜미디어나 친구 등의 양방향 정보원에 대한 만족도는 높았다. 국내 유학생들이 정보탐색과정에서 경험하는 가장 큰 어려움은 언어 문제인 것으로 나타났으며, 그 외에 한국의 사회시스템에 익숙하지 못해 겪는 어려움도 보고되었다. 정착단계별로 변화하는 유학생들의 정보요구와 정보탐색행위에 대한 이해를 바탕으로, 외국인 유학생들의 일상생활에서의 정보탐색행위를 향상시킬 수 있는 방안이 논의되었다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 2021년도 전북대학교 연구기반 조성비 지원에 의하여 연구되었음.

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