Information Needs and Information-Seeking Behavior of Primary Care Physicians

“Entrepreneurial spirit has been described as the most important economic development stimulus in recent decades” (Chalhoub, 2011, p. 67). In the early 1990s it was estimated that small to medium sized enterprises SMEs employed 22% of the adult population in developing countries and the role of SMEs is viewed as increasingly important in developing countries because of their capacity to create jobs (Okello-Obura, Minishi-Majanja, Cleote, & Ikoja-Odongo, 2007, p. 369). According to Lingelback, de la Viña and Asel (2005), even though entrepreneurship has been linked to wealth and poverty in developing countries and has played an important role in growth and poverty alleviation, it is the least studied significant economic and social phenomenon in the world today. Examining how the information needs and information seeking behavior of entrepreneurs from developing countries may differ from entrepreneurs in developed countries is important as it has been suggested that “entrepreneurship in developing countries is distinctive from that practice in developed countries and that understanding these distinctions is critical to private sector development in developing countries” (Lingelback, de la Vina, & Asel, 2005, p. 2). A review of the studies produced thus serves as a beginning for designing information packages and information services that can benefit a global population. Consequently, this chapter targets the information needs and information seeking behavior of entrepreneurs revealed in studies associated with SMEs in both developed and developing countries and offers conclusions and recommendations for meeting the information needs of this population.

Download Full-text

A Comparison of the Information Needs and Information Seeking Behavior of Entrepreneurs in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Developing and Developed Countries

International Business ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-9814-7.ch047 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 983-1000

Author(s):

Linda L. Lillard

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Information Needs ◽

Adult Population ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Information Seeking Behavior ◽

Private Sector Development ◽

Entrepreneurial Spirit ◽

Seeking Behavior

“Entrepreneurial spirit has been described as the most important economic development stimulus in recent decades” (Chalhoub, 2011, p. 67). In the early 1990s it was estimated that small to medium sized enterprises SMEs employed 22% of the adult population in developing countries and the role of SMEs is viewed as increasingly important in developing countries because of their capacity to create jobs (Okello-Obura, Minishi-Majanja, Cleote, & Ikoja-Odongo, 2007, p. 369). According to Lingelback, de la Viña and Asel (2005), even though entrepreneurship has been linked to wealth and poverty in developing countries and has played an important role in growth and poverty alleviation, it is the least studied significant economic and social phenomenon in the world today. Examining how the information needs and information seeking behavior of entrepreneurs from developing countries may differ from entrepreneurs in developed countries is important as it has been suggested that “entrepreneurship in developing countries is distinctive from that practice in developed countries and that understanding these distinctions is critical to private sector development in developing countries” (Lingelback, de la Vina, & Asel, 2005, p. 2). A review of the studies produced thus serves as a beginning for designing information packages and information services that can benefit a global population. Consequently, this chapter targets the information needs and information seeking behavior of entrepreneurs revealed in studies associated with SMEs in both developed and developing countries and offers conclusions and recommendations for meeting the information needs of this population.

Download Full-text

Tourists' Mobile Information Seeking Behavior

International Journal of Systems and Service-Oriented Engineering ◽

10.4018/ijssoe.2017010104 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 58-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jing Yi Gong ◽

Fred Schumann ◽

Dickson W.K. Chiu ◽

Kevin K.W. Ho

Keyword(s):

Information Search ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Information Needs ◽

Search Behavior ◽

Information Seeking Behavior ◽

Republic Of China ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Independent Travel ◽

Information Search Behavior ◽

Usage Preference

The Internet is considered to be one of the most effective search channels for people to get a variety of information. This is especially true, for young tourists within the 18-30 year range, who prefer free independent travel tours. Many tend to have strong information needs about their travel destinations and the use of mobile technology for information search is rapidly becoming a popular trend, especially with this demographic. This study aims to investigate the associations between the mobile device usage preference and information search behavior of young travelers, between the ages of 18 and 30, in the People's Republic of China (PRC). For this purpose, a sample of 133 respondents is used. Results of the survey are provided and followed by a discussion of the overall context. Study limitations and directions for future development are suggested.

Download Full-text

The effect of socio-demographic characteristics on the information-seeking behaviors of police officers

Policing An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management ◽

10.1108/pijpsm-12-2014-0132 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 350-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Idris Guclu ◽

Ali Can

Keyword(s):

Police Officers ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Quantitative Research ◽

Information Needs ◽

Information Sources ◽

Information Science ◽

Information Seeking Behavior ◽

Content Type ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Information Seeking Behaviors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the information-seeking behaviors of police officers who work in police stations in the context of staying current. Leckie et al.’s (1996) model of the information-seeking behavior of professionals is tested. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research design was employed for data collection. The sample includes 642 cases. It is both descriptive and exploratory. Findings – Police officers first rely upon their personal knowledge and experience, then their colleagues and then official documents. On the other hand, they rarely consulted informants, libraries, journals, books, and attendance at conferences as information sources. There were significant differences in the information sources used by police officers based on their gender in the context of staying current. Lastly, the results of this study indicated that service years in policing and the roles in police station were significantly correlated with the information sources used by police officers regarding staying current. Originality/value – This study, being the first, provides a huge theoretical base for future studies. It contributes to the discipline of information science by validating a theoretical model in a different context. In addition, it contributes to public safety by understanding the frontline police officers’ information needs and information-seeking behavior.

Download Full-text

Dimorphism as a Metaphor for Information-Seeking Behavior

ATLA Summary of Proceedings ◽

10.31046/proceedings.2018.79 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 62-85

Author(s):

David Edward Schmersal

Keyword(s):

Information Seeking ◽

Information Needs ◽

User Behavior ◽

Near East ◽

Ancient Near East ◽

Information Seeking Behavior ◽

Digital Services ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Heuristic Device ◽

Insight Into

Our increasingly hybridized information environment, in which both print and electronic resources are available and offer certain advantages, may be described as “dimorphic,” alluding to the dual modes of sustenance evident among certain semi-nomadic peoples in the Ancient Near East. In this session, reference and digital services librarian David Schmersal will draw upon amateur interest in the Ancient Near East to explain how dimorphic social structure may provide a useful heuristic device or metaphor for understanding the information-seeking behavior of students, faculty, and other researchers. Such insight into user behavior may be applied to collection development, instruction sessions, reference interviews, and other crossroads between libraries and our patrons’ information needs.

Download Full-text

Information Needs and Seeking Behavior of Science & Technology Teachers of the University of the Punjab, Lahore

Pakistan Journal of Information Management and Libraries ◽

10.47657/200910804 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 73-88

Author(s):

Muzammil Tahira ◽

Kanwal Ameen

Keyword(s):

Information Seeking ◽

Information Needs ◽

Information Sources ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Direct Access ◽

Information Seeking Behavior ◽

Quantitative Survey ◽

Science Technology ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

The University

The paper focuses on enquiring the information needs and Information seeking behavior of Science and Technology (S&T) teachers of the University of the Punjab (PU). Their preferences regarding various formats of information sources (printed and electronic) and importance of formal and informal sources have been explored through quantitative survey. Self-completion questionnaire was used to reach whole population of institutions/colleges/departments of all Science and Technology faculties. Findings reveal: both libraries and e-resources are playing important role in meeting respondents' information needs; direct access to e-sources has slightly decreased the number of their visits to departmental and central libraries; and faculty spend comparatively more time on searching web sources than print sources.

Download Full-text

The Informing Needs of Procurement Officers in Israel

Informing Science The International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline ◽

10.28945/3765 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. 149-165

Author(s):

Dan Bouhnik ◽

Yahel Giat ◽

Issachar Zarruk

Keyword(s):

Digital Literacy ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Supplier Selection ◽

Information Needs ◽

Internal Consistency Reliability ◽

Information Seeking Behavior ◽

Future Research ◽

Specific Information ◽

Research Areas ◽

Seeking Behavior

Aim/Purpose: To develop and introduce a questionnaire that investigates the informing needs, information-seeking behavior, and supplier selection of procurement officers in Israel. The questionnaire’s internal consistency reliability is given. Additionally, we describe the demographic description of the procurement officers in Israel. Background: Procurement science is an important field that affects firms’ profits in the private sector and is significant to growth, innovation, sustainability, and welfare in the public sector. There is little research about the informing needs of procurement officers in general and particularly in Israel. Methodology: A quantitative questionnaire that is sent to all the procurement officers in Israel’s procuring association. Contribution: The questionnaire that is developed in this paper may be used by other researchers and practitioners to evaluate the information needs of procurement officers. Findings: The typical procurement officer is male, with a bachelor degree and is digitally proficient. Recommendations for Practitioners: The procuring side can use the questionnaire to develop better tools for obtaining information efficiently. The supplying side can use this knowledge to improve its exposure to potential customers and address its customer’s needs better. Recommendation for Researchers: The questionnaire can address theoretical questions such as how digital literacy affects the procuring process and provide empirical findings about active research areas such as supplier selection and information-seeking behavior. Future Research: Future research will examine the relationship between the various variables and demographic features to understand why specific information needs and information-seeking behaviors arise.

Download Full-text