scholarly journals Measuring Levels of Students' Anxiety in Information Seeking Tasks

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 56-68
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif Naveed ◽  
Kanwal Ameen

This study measured information seeking anxiety among postgraduate students of the University of the Punjab, Lahore. Survey method using questionnaire was employed to conduct this investigation. The questionnaire consisting of an Information Seeking Anxiety Scale and demographic variables was administered in students, selected through convenient sampling procedure, for data collection. The results indicated that a large majority (n=207, 82.4%) of the respondents experienced more than low anxiety in the information seeking process. No significant relationship was found between age, gender, faculty and information seeing anxiety scores of these students. Conversely, there were significant differences in anxiety scores of students based on the program of study, stage of study, and computer proficiency. The results provide useful insights for guidance of information professionals dealing with reference and research services, especially those engaged in designing information literacy curricula and managing information literacy instructions.

Libri ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif Naveed ◽  
Kanwal Ameen

AbstractThis study examined the prevalence and correlatives of information seeking anxiety in postgraduate students of the University of the Punjab, Lahore using Information Seeking Anxiety Scale (ISAS). The participants’ selection was made using a stratified convenient sampling due to non-availability through random process. Postgraduate students were approached through a questionnaire, containing ISAS and demographic variables, with descriptive and inferential statistics used for data analysis. Results indicated the prevalence of information seeking anxiety among postgraduates as a large majority of the sample did face more than low anxiety for overall ISAS and all its sub-scales. Participants’ age, gender, faculty, program of study, study stage, computer proficiency, and research experience also appeared to be correlatives to the information seeking anxiety. These useful insights had serious implications to viable information literacy (IL) programs and could be used as a guide by academic information professionals managing information services, especially those engaged in IL instructions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Klomsri ◽  
Matti Tedre

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is increasingly used in Tanzanian education. Knowing how to operate ICT alone is incomplete without knowing how to use it as a tool for organization, communication, research, and problem-solving. In recognition of this challenge, information literacy (IL) has been identified as a key attribute to students as they progress through their learning paths. Based on a mixed methods strategy, using questionnaires and focus group discussions, this study measured the level of IL skills among University of Dar es Salaam’s (UDSM) postgraduate students, to gain insights into the students’ perceptions and experiences with information problems. A total of 102 students from four institutions answered the online questionnaire and 22 students participated in six focus group discussions. The questionnaire scores of the students were poor in the majority of IL categories, suggesting ineffectiveness of the current IL training in imparting IL knowledge and skills. The study ends by discussing recommendations to improve current IL practices at the university.


Author(s):  
Corrado Petrucco ◽  
Massimo Ferrante

Students now have information processing behaviors characterized by rapid shifts in attention, less reflection and failure to deploy metacognitive processes, preferring activities that bring immediate rewards for their information needs, even if the quality of the information they obtain is low. Consequently, they run into significant difficulties in the selection and critical evaluation of the information they find during university learning activities. This article presents two information literacy training initiatives addressing these issues at the University of Padova (Italy): one in a course in educational technologies offered as part of a second-cycle degree program, and the other in two of the university library system's training facilities. The training workshops sought to be complementary, covering both the search engine and the library OPAC approach to information seeking.


Author(s):  
P. Pitchaipandi

This chapter tries to analyse the impact and usage of social media among the postgraduate students of arts in Alagappa University, Karaikudi, under survey method for the study. The study identified the majority (69.79%) of the respondents under female category, and 72.92% of the respondents belong in the age group between 21 and 23 years. It is observed that 32.29% of the respondents use the social media, preferably YouTube. The plurality (48.96%) of the respondents use smartphone/mobiles compare to iPod, desktop, laptop, and others. 35.42% of the respondents' spent between 1 and 5 hours weekly using social media. Further, the study also observes the positive and negative aspects of using social media in postgraduate students of arts disciplines in the university.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Addisalem Gebrekidan Desta ◽  
Madely du Preez ◽  
Patrick Ngulube

The purpose of this study was to investigate some of the factors affecting the information-seeking behaviour of postgraduate students registered at the University of South Africa (Unisa) as represented by its Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre, with particular emphasis on their use of electronic information resources. A qualitative case study approach was adopted. In semi-structured interviews, eight conveniently selected postgraduate students shared their information-seeking experiences. The data was analysed thematically. The findings identified contextual and personal factors which gave rise to the respondents’ information needs and in turn prompted information activities such as information seeking. Of these, a lack of ICT infrastructure, frequent interruptions in electricity supply, old computers and the location of the Akaki Branch Library proved to be the main factors affecting postgraduate students’ electronic information-seeking behaviour. The findings showed the effect that inadequate facilities have on postgraduate students’ information behaviour.


2002 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecelia Brown ◽  
Lee R. Krumholz

A science librarian and a microbiology professor collaborated to assess information-seeking, evaluating, and usage abilities before, during, and at the end of a senior-level geomicrobiology course. ACRL’s Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education was used as a guide in designing a survey and checklists to measure literacy levels. Following an initial survey of the students’ information literacy level, two instruction sessions were provided in the use of bibliographic finding tools available from the University of Oklahoma Libraries. During each subsequent class meeting, students presented, critiqued, and discussed a referred article. The cycle was repeated, and the survey was administered again at the end of the semester. The survey results indicated an 11 percent increase in information literacy, but no significant improvement in the students’ ability to present, critique, and discuss information. A model for incorporating information literacy into upper-level undergraduate science courses and an instrument for measuring information literacy are proposed.


Author(s):  
Solveig Kavli ◽  
Amund Børdahl

The online tutorial Søk & Skriv (Search and Write) was launched March 2007. The site has been under continuous development, from being an online tutorial in mainly information literacy connected with academic writing, to covering broader aspects such as intellectual property rights and thorough views on ethics and academic guidelines related to student work. The original Søk & Skriv is the result from a joined project between the academic libraries of Bergen University College, the Norwegian School of Economics and Bergen University Library. To improve the product we have extended the project group with the academic writing unit at the University of Bergen. The University of Oslo library has also joined the project group, in this way the online tutorial reaches further out nationally. The point of departure for launching the new version of Søk & Skriv is based in the findings from our online survey; Søk & Skriv i et brukerperspektiv: Rapport fra spørreundersøkelsen høsten 2010; a Danish evaluation done on three different online tutorials in information literacy in Norway called Studerende, læring og webtutorials, and readings on the so called Google generation. Our findings indicate that the generation n, persons born after 1980 tend to use a small amount of time to search for information (Feiertag and Berge, 2008). Information search as sense-making Information search is understood as an action. As you go along doing your searches you must decide and evaluate whether and how the information at hand will be useful for your research (Dervin, 1999, p.745). Like Dervin we understand information search as sense-making. The source alone is not the authoritative voice, but is dependent on the student who must define the value of the text, and take a stand. This also coincides with the use of Stephen Toulmins model on argumentation (Toulmin, 2003; Rienecker 2012, pp.299-319), both in the text the students are reading, and in the text they are to write themselves. By using Toulmins model in Søk & Skriv we demonstrate a tool on how to read and evaluate the sources by questioning the sources at hand. The purpose is to enable the students to decide whether the information will be useful for their research. Students must demonstrate how (and why) the sources they find are relevant for their thesis. The aim of this article is to present the work we have done in our new version of Søk & Skriv where the goal is to get students from generation n to invest time in searching, reading, evaluating and writing; and to connect their writing with ethical use of sources. The new version of the product www.sokogskriv.no is the result of a thorough collaboration between academic writing experts and librarians.   ReferenceDervin, B.B. (1999). On Studying Information Seeking Methodologically: The Implications of Connecting Metatheory to Method. Information Processing and Management 35(6), 727-750. Feiertag, J. & Berge, Z. L. (2008). Training Generation N: how educators should approach the Net Generation. Education + Training 50(6), 457-464. Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1740424 Forras, P., Kavli, S., Mikki, S., Austrheim, G. & Elvebakk, E. (2011). Søk & Skriv i et brukerperspektiv: Rapport fra spørreundersøkelsen høsten 2010. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1956/4781 Hyldegård, J., Lund, H., Moring, C., Pors, N.P., & Schreiber, T. (2011). Studerende, læring og webtutorials: En analyse af 3 norske læringssystemer. København: Det informationsvidenskabelige akademi.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-60
Author(s):  
Taina Kettunen ◽  
Kristina Weimer ◽  
Valtteri Vainikka ◽  
Päivi Helminen

The University of Helsinki is a multidisciplinary university with about 31 300 students and 7800 staff. Our bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes were recently redesigned and started off in the autumn semester 2017. At the Helsinki University Library, this led to the reorganization of our information literacy teaching in order to be able to connect with larger amounts of students. In autumn 2017, we launched two new MOOCs: a Finnish language one for bachelor’s level and an English version mainly for master’s level students. Currently, the MOOCs are compulsory in some study programmes and voluntary in many others. Our main goals were to make the MOOCs interactive and to collaborate with departments to get these courses integrated into their curricula at the point when students need these skills the most. This article discusses what we have learned during the process of constructing MOOCs and how we tackled the main challenges of meaningful content, integration and interaction. The MOOCs are in continuous development based on received feedback.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (S1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
M. Manthiramoorthi ◽  
R. R. Saravanakumar ◽  
A. Thirumagal

The paper deals with the awareness of information literacy among students of Arts and Science colleges in Tirunelveli. The objectives of the study is to identify the level of awareness of information literacy among students, to know the purpose of accessing library resources, to identify the search strategy tool used to access information, to know the level of usage of library resources, to identify the problem faced while accessing information and to know the level of satisfaction among students about their information literacy skills. This study deals with survey method and questionnaire tool was used for data collection. The research sample consists of both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The questionnaires were distributed randomly among the sample of 300 students in the selected three Arts and Science colleges in Tirunelveli. The collected data was analysed, interpreted and tabulated by using statistical tools like simple percentage and Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient (PMCC) with the help of SPSS software. This study can used to know how to locate, access, and evaluate the right information in right time. It helps the librarian and faculty members to guide the students as where to access right source of information and how to evaluate their needed information and to satisfy the information users in an easy manner.


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