5. Information Search
Systems –The Basic Elements
Link
Search formulation
Search Software
Workstation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Searcher
Search Formulation
Workstation
Link to Computer System
Search Software or Engine
Store Information
Retrieved Items
Search of
Information
Retrieved Items
22. Personal Information Infrastructure
Mental Model(s)
Cognitive
Executive
&
Attitudes
Events, etc.
Search System
Knowledge
Domain
Cognitive Skills
Specific, e.g,
Information
Seeking
General
Material Resources
Time, etc.
Money
Equipment
Documents
34. Online Search Service
•
General
-Bath Information and Data Service
(BIDS).(www.bids.ac.uk )
-OCLC First Search.(www.oclc.org)
• Scientific
-Elsevier Engineering Information
Inc.(www.ei.org)
• News/business
-Dow Jones Interactive
Publishing.(bis.dowjones.com)
-Financial Times.(www.info.ft.com)
-Reuters.(www.reuters.com)
36. What is the Google
Generation?
• Synonyms:
– Generation Xbox
– - iPod generation
– instant-messaging generation
– Internet generation
• Quick answers and Instant gratification
• A verity of learning experience
• Feel constantly connected to the web
• A poor understanding and lack of respect for
Intellectual Property.
40. Consequences of Web
• Clearly, the existence of the Internet and the
plethora of online tools it has generated have
enhanced the ways of information seeking behavior
of the users as a whole whether it be in
traditional or the Electronic environment.
• In the face of the technological changes that have
been occurring in relation to information
search, mediated Library services are declining.
41. Issues with Electronic
searching
• There are issues of literacy among the users in
relation to online information searching.
• Many online users still turn to printed materials
and
print-based
and
electronic
information
sources, although for different purposes and at
different times in the information-seeking cycle.
42. Role of Libraries in Electronic
world
• Libraries holds a significant repository so its
holdings must be digitized.
• Online Interfaces must be dynamic and multi-modal
to engage interest.
• Virtual library environments could be established
in which librarian acts as avatars who escort
users
around
a
virtual
library
to
the
materials, the user wants to access.
43. ICT has Greatly Affected the
information Environment
Librarians and other users of information must adapt to
the changing technological environment to:
•
•
be able to use electronic resources and access tools.
be able to respond to new user information needs and
information-seeking behaviors.
• be able to provide solutions to multifarious queries
of Google generations.
Kuhlthau’s (1988; 1989; 1991) empirical studies of library systems usage by high school seniors lead her to the six-stage Information Search Process (ISP) model; she describes the ISP as a “process of construction which involves the whole experience of the person, feelings as well as thoughts and actions.” (pg. 362, Kuhlthau, 1991) The ISP model’s keystone is Kelly’s (1963) personality construct theory that describes an individual’s affective experiences in the process of constructing meaning from information; each of the six stages is associated with certain feelings, thoughts, information tasks, and actions Initiation – An individual becomes aware of the need for information; she is uncertain about what she needs and begins seeking background information. Selection – The individual identifies the general topic or approach to investigate; she becomes less uncertain and more optimistic about the information she needs but is still seeking background information. Exploration – The individual’s uncertainty rises again; she also has feelings of confusion and doubt as she more closely explores her general topic She switches from seeking background information to relevant information that will help her. Formulation – This stage is the turning point of the ISP because the individual starts to have a much clearer understanding of the topic; her uncertainty diminishes and confidence increases as she narrows her information seeking activity to particularly relevant information about the topic. Collection – At this stage, the individual interacts the most efficiently and effectively with the information system; she has a clear sense of direction and has narrowed the topic sufficiently to allow her to gather the necessary information. Presentation –An individual feels relief if the search has gone well or disappointment if it has failed. At this stage, the individual attempts to put all the information together for presentation. Fundamentally, this model points out that an individual’s feeling of uncertainty associated with a search process gives rise to doubts, fears, and confusion. However, as the search process progresses, the individual’s uncertainty and related negative feelings decrease as she finds more and more relevant information; instead, the individual now feels relief, satisfaction, and sense of direction. Although Kuhlthau’s model was built on longitudinal studies of high school students, she has applied it to other groups with some success (Kuhlthau, 1996). Kuhlthau uses her model to highlight how individuals’ information seeking behavior occurs in stages and is accompanied by related changes in their emotions. 2 1
Opinion and commentary pieces assume that all young people belong to the Google Generation and are equipped withall the latest gadgetry but are they really that different, or will they develop new ways of researching as a result of new publishing models – open access, interactive information seeking Raises questions about the integrity of what is published by open access. Integrity of what is published (formally and informally) – user-generated (and published) content – blogs, wikisTrend is towards interactive rather than passive, sequential information seeking, preference for visual information, multi-tasking which may affect information seekingWeb 2 technologiesTech skills belie inf seeking abilitiesCIBER’s report sought to establish generational differences – no conclusive evidence, in fact older surfers, over 65s, spend 4 hours per week longer on the internet than 18-24 year olds
ICT and publishing developments mean we need to understand how LIS can remain relevant to information provision for researchers in the future. The JISC and the BL have similar aims in this respect, but it’s a much wider issue than that – information seeking/discovery/retrieval (call it what you will) in a knowledge based economy also has significant implications for business development and the lifelong learning agenda. The CIBER study set out to identify the threats and opportunities posed by the internet, search engines and web 2.0 technologiesContent: how the study was carried out, about some of the myths and realities that emerged and comment on some of the challenges and implications for LIS and education ----------------------------------Evaluation of relevant published literature of last 30 yearsContext setting review of academic behaviour before during and in the wake of the digital transition Comparison of 1980s and 1990s studies to isolate critical differences between the generations Many studies, particularly those of younger people haven’t compared their behaviour with historical studies. Both research studies and opinion pieces were reviewed, with opinion being tested against the literature. Studies of young people’s information seeking behaviour included historical studies and recent opinion pieces, surveys and market researchMany studies had sample sizes of 50 or fewer, so evidence is not conclusive. Ages ranged from 9-18, though some coverage of under 9s – interesting that so many studies took place in an educational settingLongitudinal studies by Carol Tenopir and Don King were revisited to identify the extent to which older researchers adapt to changes in information provision. Data collected from 17-50 year olds was reexamined to identify different behaviour in students and faculty in reading and discovering journal articles New evidence gathered from log analysis to profile searchers using the BL Learning and Intute web sites.CIBER has accrued significant experi`ence of deep log analysis whilst researching the information seeking behaviour of virtual scholars using databases such as ScienDirect, Ohiolink, Synergy (Blackwells journals), Oxford Scholarship online, Wiley interscience
