IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/jamist/v61y2010i5p869-890.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

National study of information seeking behavior of academic researchers in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Xi Niu
  • Bradley M. Hemminger
  • Cory Lown
  • Stephanie Adams
  • Cecelia Brown
  • Allison Level
  • Merinda McLure
  • Audrey Powers
  • Michele R. Tennant
  • Tara Cataldo

Abstract

As new technologies and information delivery systems emerge, the way in which individuals search for information to support research, teaching, and creative activities is changing. To understand different aspects of researchers' information‐seeking behavior, this article surveyed 2,063 academic researchers in natural science, engineering, and medical science from five research universities in the United States. A Web‐based, in‐depth questionnaire was designed to quantify researchers' information searching, information use, and information storage behaviors. Descriptive statistics are reported. Additionally, analysis of results is broken out by institutions to compare differences among universities. Significant findings are reported, with the biggest changes because of increased utilization of electronic methods for searching, sharing, and storing scholarly content, as well as for utilizing library services. Generally speaking, researchers in the five universities had similar information‐seeking behavior, with small differences because of varying academic unit structures and myriad library services provided at the individual institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xi Niu & Bradley M. Hemminger & Cory Lown & Stephanie Adams & Cecelia Brown & Allison Level & Merinda McLure & Audrey Powers & Michele R. Tennant & Tara Cataldo, 2010. "National study of information seeking behavior of academic researchers in the United States," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 61(5), pages 869-890, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jamist:v:61:y:2010:i:5:p:869-890
    DOI: 10.1002/asi.21307
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.21307
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/asi.21307?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wayne Buente & Alice Robbin, 2008. "Trends in Internet information behavior, 2000–2004," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 59(11), pages 1743-1760, September.
    2. Delia Neuman, 1995. "High school students' use of databases: Results of a national Delphi study," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 46(4), pages 284-298, May.
    3. ,, 2003. "Problems And Solutions," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(4), pages 691-705, August.
    4. Cecelia Brown, 2007. "The role of Web‐based information in the scholarly communication of chemists: Citation and content analyses of American Chemical Society Journals," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 58(13), pages 2055-2065, November.
    5. Cecelia M. Brown, 1999. "Information seeking behavior of scientists in the electronic information age: Astronomers, chemists, mathematicians, and physicists," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 50(10), pages 929-943.
    6. ,, 2003. "Problems And Solutions," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(1), pages 225-228, February.
    7. Philip M. Davis, 2004. "Information‐seeking behavior of chemists: A transaction log analysis of referral URLs," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 55(4), pages 326-332, February.
    8. Bradley M. Hemminger & Dihui Lu & K.T.L. Vaughan & Stephanie J. Adams, 2007. "Information seeking behavior of academic scientists," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 58(14), pages 2205-2225, December.
    9. ,, 2003. "Problems And Solutions," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(5), pages 879-883, October.
    10. ,, 2003. "Problems And Solutions," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(6), pages 1195-1198, December.
    11. ,, 2003. "Problems And Solutions," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(2), pages 411-413, April.
    12. Paul N. Gorman, 1995. "Information needs of physicians," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 46(10), pages 729-736, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Gabriela Meșniță & Dumitru Oprea & Florin Dumitriu, 2011. "Research Projects And Web 2.0: Challenges And Effects," Analele Stiintifice ale Universitatii "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iasi - Stiinte Economice (1954-2015), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 2011, pages 265-277, july.
    2. Elizabeth Martín-Mora & Shari Ellis & Lawrence M Page, 2020. "Use of web-based species occurrence information systems by academics and government professionals," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-41, July.
    3. Kwabena Asiedu Bugyei & Raphael Kwame Kavi & Grace Obeng-Koranteng, 2019. "Assessing the Awareness and Usage of Reference Management Software (RMS) Among Researchers of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Ghana," Journal of Information & Knowledge Management (JIKM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 18(03), pages 1-24, September.
    4. S. Ravikumar & Bidyut Bikash Boruah & M. N. Ravikumar, 2022. "Correlation study between citation count and Mendeley readership of the articles of Sri Lankan authors," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(8), pages 4873-4885, August.
    5. Ehsan Mohammadi & Mike Thelwall & Kayvan Kousha, 2016. "Can Mendeley bookmarks reflect readership? A survey of user motivations," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 67(5), pages 1198-1209, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yakut, Oguz, 2021. "Implementation of hydraulically driven barrel shooting control by utilizing artificial neural networks," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 1206-1223.
    2. X. Qin & G. Huang, 2009. "An Inexact Chance-constrained Quadratic Programming Model for Stream Water Quality Management," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(4), pages 661-695, March.
    3. Md. Yousuf Gazi & Khandakar Tahmida Tafhim, 2019. "Investigation of Heavy-mineral Deposits Using Multispectral Satellite Imagery in the Eastern Coastal Margin of Bangladesh," Earth Sciences Malaysia (ESMY), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 3(2), pages 16-22, October.
    4. Billionnet, Alain, 2011. "Solving the probabilistic reserve selection problem," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(3), pages 546-554.
    5. Minghe Sun, 2005. "Warm-Start Routines for Solving Augmented Weighted Tchebycheff Network Programs in Multiple-Objective Network Programming," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 17(4), pages 422-437, November.
    6. François Clautiaux & Cláudio Alves & José Valério de Carvalho & Jürgen Rietz, 2011. "New Stabilization Procedures for the Cutting Stock Problem," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 23(4), pages 530-545, November.
    7. Kenneth Kletzer & Mr. Barry J. Eichengreen & Mr. Ashoka Mody, 2003. "Crisis Resolution: Next Steps," IMF Working Papers 2003/196, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Tansel, Aysit & Karao?lan, Deniz, 2016. "The Causal Effect of Education on Health Behaviors: Evidence from Turkey," IZA Discussion Papers 10020, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Di Feng & Bettina Klaus, 2022. "Preference revelation games and strict cores of multiple‐type housing market problems," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 18(1), pages 61-76, March.
    10. Anna Scherbina, 2021. "Assessing the Optimality of a COVID Lockdown in the United States," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 177-201, July.
    11. John McKay, 2005. "How Significant and Effective are North Korea's "Market Reforms"?," Global Economic Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 83-97.
    12. Timothy K.M. Beatty & Erling Røed Larsen & Dag Einar Sommervoll, 2005. "Measuring the Price of Housing Consumption for Owners in the CPI," Discussion Papers 427, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    13. Marco Bianchi & Carlos Tapia & Ikerne del Valle, 2020. "Monitoring domestic material consumption at lower territorial levels: A novel data downscaling method," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(5), pages 1074-1087, October.
    14. Sonmez, Tayfun & Utku Unver, M., 2005. "House allocation with existing tenants: an equivalence," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 153-185, July.
    15. Juarez, Ruben, 2013. "Group strategyproof cost sharing: The role of indifferences," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 218-239.
    16. Velloso, Helvia & Vézina, François & Bustillo, Inés, 2006. "The Canadian retirement income system," Documentos de Proyectos 3682, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    17. Melega, Gislaine Mara & de Araujo, Silvio Alexandre & Jans, Raf, 2018. "Classification and literature review of integrated lot-sizing and cutting stock problems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 271(1), pages 1-19.
    18. Roth, Alvin E. & Sonmez, Tayfun & Utku Unver, M., 2005. "Pairwise kidney exchange," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 125(2), pages 151-188, December.
    19. Martino Bardi & Peter Caines & Italo Capuzzo Dolcetta, 2013. "Preface: DGAA Special Issue on Mean Field Games," Dynamic Games and Applications, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 443-445, December.
    20. repec:dau:papers:123456789/5389 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Robert Hahn & Paul Tetlock, 2006. "A New Approach for Regulating Information Markets," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 265-281, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:jamist:v:61:y:2010:i:5:p:869-890. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.asis.org .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.