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Presentation in the First Workshop on Digital Information Management. The workshop is organized by the Laboratory on Digital Libraries and Electronic Publication, Department of Archives and Library Sciences, Ionian University, Greece and aims to create a venue for unfolding research activity on the general field of Information Science. The workshop features sessions for the dissemination of the research results of the Laboratory members, as well as tutorial sessions on interesting issues.
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Information seeking behaviour of Greek astronomers
Hara Brindesi*, Sarantos Kapidakis*
*Laboratory on Digital Libraries and Electronic Publishing, Archive and Library Sciences Department, Ionian University
1st Workshop on Digital Information Management
Contents
Definitions Aims of Information seeking behaviour studiesAims of the studyP l tiPopulationMethodologyMain resultsMain resultsConclusionsBibliographyBibliography
DefinitionsDefinitionsInformation behaviourInformation seeking behaviourInformation seeking behaviourInformation search behaviour
Wilson’s nested modelWilson s nested model
Information seeking behaviour studiesInformation seeking behaviour studiesAims
Evaluation of information collections (BroadusEvaluation of information collections (Broadus, 1980, Christiansen, Davis, & Reedscott, 1983, Subrahmanyam, 1983).
Improvement of Information systems (Ellis, 1993 Kuhlthau 1993 Marchionini 1995)1993, Kuhlthau, 1993, Marchionini, 1995)
Information literacy seminars (Hepworth Μ andInformation literacy seminars (Hepworth, Μ and Wema, Ε. 2006, Pinto, María and Sales, Dora 2007, Walker, J. R., Moen, William E., 2001).
Aims of the study
Our main aims were to investigate three aspects of the Greek astronomers’ information seeking behaviourGreek astronomers information seeking behaviour.
I. The importance they place in keeping up to date with current developmentswith current developments.
II. The methods they depend on for keeping up to datedate.
III. The information sources they mostly use.
Further aims of the study
The study uses an intradisciplinary approach in order to investigate:to investigate:
i il iti d diff i i f ti kisimilarities and differences in information seeking behaviour among astronomers with different characteristics including academic status agecharacteristics, including academic status, age, subfield of astronomy or affiliated institution.
Population
106 astronomers of the area of Athens106 astronomers of the area of AthensProfessors of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of University of Athens Athens University PhD and MSc students Academy of Athens researchers Athens National Observatory researchers
Methodology
13 face-to-face semi-structured interviews Analysis of the interviews Online questionnaire which was filled inOnline questionnaire, which was filled in by 73 recipients
Main resultsMain resultsI. Interest in keeping up to date with current
d l tdevelopments
The rapid awareness for new papers is absolutely important for the majority of the astronomers
Interest for rapid awareness
52,160,0
40 0
50,0
A little important
18,3
26,830,0
40,0 A little importantSomewhat importantQuite important
2,810,0
20,0 Absolutely important
0,01
The interest for rapid awareness is apparent for the professors and researchers less for the PHD students and even less forand researchers, less for the PHD students and even less for the MSc students.
Rapid awareness/Status A little important
Somew hat important
60 0%
70,0%
80,0% Quite important
Absolutely important
40,0%
50,0%
60,0%
20,0%
30,0%
0,0%
10,0%
Professors Researcher MSC PHD
Percentage distribution of importance of keeping up-to date by subfield of astronomy
100%100%90,50%
76 90%80%90%
100%
to-date by subfield of astronomy
76,90%70% 66,70%
60%
20%30%40%50%60%70%
smolo
gyy of ..
.hy
sics
Stars
sics
my
my
S10%
10%20%
Cosm
tory an
d phil
osoph
y Spa
ce ph
y StAstr
ophy
si
tragala
ctic a
stron
omy
Dynam
ical a
stron
omy
Histo
Extra
Dy
How many hours per week do astronomers spend for keeping up-to-date?
Astronomers in Greece spend on average 7 hours per week for keeping up-to-date.
Professors and researchers show greater interest in keeping in touch with current developments in comparison to PhD and MSc students.
Academy of Athens researchers spend more hours per week for keeping up-to-date, in comparison to the scholars of Athens University and The Athens National Observatory.
There are no great differences among various age groups, except for g g g g p , pthe groups “18-24” and “25-34” that seem to show lower interest in comparison to the rest.
Hours/week (on average) for keeping up-to-date
14 33 14 0016 00
Hours/week (on average) for keeping up to date in relation to the subfield of astronomy
14,33 14,00
7,30 7,00 6,00 5 90 5 088,00
10,0012,0014,0016,00
5,90 5,08
0,002,004,006,00
y s y y s s
Cosmolo
gy
d philosop
hy of ..
.
Space ph
ysics
namical a
strono
my
galactic
astron
omy
Astrophys
icsStars
History
and p
Dyna
Extraga
Main resultsII. Methods used for keeping up-to-date
Methods used for keeping up-to-dateMethods used for keeping up to date
2,9%
1,0%
Conferences
13,7%5,4%
5,4%
4,1% Coleagues Online searches Seminars
13,7%9,3%
5,4%Browse ADS Browse arXiv Browse e-journals
12,0%11,5%10,7%
10,5% ADS email alerts Journals email alerts Newsletters Browse print journals Publishers catalogs
Main resultsIII. Information sources usage
Sources usage at least twice a week
88,20%
67,60%64,20%60 90%58 60%
70,00%
80,00%
90,00%
29,70%
60,90%58,60%55,40%
21 70%
54,30%
38,80%31,80%
25,40%22 10%30,00%
40,00%
50,00%
60,00%
20,60% 21,70% , 22,10%17,10%
11,60%7,40%4,30%
0,00%
10,00%
20,00%
ogle
ol
ar
ADS
ite
se r
ial
eria
lXi
v na
lsna
lson
soo
ksoo
ksue
sAC
s on
sin
gsen
cedg
e
Goo
Goo
gle
Sch A
We b
sire
fere
nce
mat
ere
fere
nce
mat
eAr
XEl
ectro
nic
jour
nPr
inte
d jo
urn
Cita
tioPr
inte
d bo
Elec
troni
c b o
Col
leag
uO
PAw
ith o
bser
vatio
upat
iona
l mee
tiSI
Web
of S
cie
Web
of K
nowl
ed
Elec
troni
c Pr
inte
d
DBs
O
ccu I W
Main conclusions concerning usage of information sources
ADS is used by everyone in our sampleGoogle is used by everyone in our sample.G l S h l i t d h i l h itGoogle Scholar is not used so much, mainly when it is compared to the use of Google.Databases such as “ISI Web of Science” or “Web ofDatabases such as ISI Web of Science or Web of Knowledge” are not so popular among the Greek astronomers.Wikipedia is increasingly used.The use of printed materials as well as the use of libraries have been decreased to the minimumlibraries have been decreased to the minimum
With the only exception of the printed books that are more popular than those in an electronic format.
Main results
Information sources usage vs. academic status
Journals and books in printed format, as well as Google Scholar are used mainly by professors.
Books in electronic format are used mainly by PhD and MSc studentsstudents.
Citations are used heavily by researchers.
Unlike the majority of astronomers, MSc students don’t use ADS neither do they use arXiv database heavily.ADS neither do they use arXiv database heavily.
Main results
Information sources usage vs. subfield of astronomyy
Scholars occupied with the subfield of “dynamic astronomy” don’t use arXiv org so heavilyastronomy don t use arXiv.org so heavily.
Cosmologists use ADS less than the scientists of the other subfields.
Observations΄ databases as well as the printedObservations databases as well as the printed reference material are used mainly by the scholars of the subfield of “Stars”.
Main results
Information sources usage vs. age
Astronomers of 55 years old and above, rarely use the eprint archive arXiv.org, as well as electronic library catalogs and electronic books.
The same age category uses mostly "Google Scholar" andThe same age category uses mostly Google Scholar and printed journals.
f “18 2 ” GThe age category of “18-24” uses mostly Google, websites, electronic reference material and printed books.
Main resultsMain resultsMost important sources of information in relation to information needs
Observation needs: Observations΄ databases, ADS.
Research needs: ADS ArXiv org electronic journalsResearch needs: ADS, ArXiv.org, electronic journalsHowever, Athens University scholars favour Google as a source of information.
Current developments needs: ArXiv.org, ADSH A h U i i h l ll A d f A h h fHowever, Athens University scholars as well as Academy of Athens researchers favour the use of printed books.
Teaching needs: ArXiv.org, Websites, printed booksHowever, Academy of Athens researchers as well as those of The National Observatory favour Google as a source of information.
Writing needs (articles, books, e.tc.): ADS, ArXiv.org, Web of knowledge, g ( , , ) , g, g ,OPACs.
Personal information needs: Websites, Google, ArXiv.org, Wikipedia.
Investigation needs for a subject area not well known : Wikipedia, Websites. However, Academy of Athens researchers favour printed books.
Conclusions
Statistical results revealed that participants΄ information seeking behaviour is significantly affected by variables such as academic status, g y y ,age, subfield of astronomy or affiliated institution.
Usage of printed materials as well as usage of libraries have been d d t th i i t tl i ldecreased to the minimum, as astronomers currently use, mainly, electronic resources.
The rapid awareness of new developments is absolutely critical for theThe rapid awareness of new developments is absolutely critical for the majority of them.
As far as the resources and methods participants use for keeping up toAs far as the resources and methods participants use for keeping up to date, there is high reliance on resources entailing human contact (e.g. seminars, colleagues, etc.).
BibliographyBibliography
Broadus R N (1980) Use studies of library collections LibraryBroadus, R.N. (1980). Use studies of library collections. Library Resources & Technical Services, 24(4), 317–324.Christiansen, D.E., Davis, C.R., & Reedscott, J. (1983). Guide to collection evaluation through use and user studies Library Resources &collection evaluation through use and user studies. Library Resources & Technical Services, 27(4), 432–440.Ellis, D. (1993). Modeling the information-seeking patterns of academic researchers: A grounded theory approach The Library Quarterly 63(4)researchers: A grounded theory approach. The Library Quarterly, 63(4),469–486.Hepworth, Μ and Wema, Ε. (2006) "The design and implementation of an information literacy training course that integrated Information andan information literacy training course that integrated Information and Library Science conceptions of information literacy, educational theory and information behaviour research: a Tanzanian pilot study" ITALICS, Vol. 5 Νο1, [Avalilable at: www.ics.heacademy.ac.uk/italics/vol5-1/pdf/hepworth-evans-final.pdf (Date of access: 1/07/08)]Kuhlthau, C.C. (1993). Seeking meaning: A process approach to library and information services. Norwood, NJ: Ablex
BibliographyBibliography
Marchionini G (1995) Information seeking in electronic environmentMarchionini, G. (1995). Information seeking in electronic environment. Cambridge: Cambridge University PressPinto, María and Sales, Dora (2007) A research case study for user-centred information literacy instruction: information behaviour ofcentred information literacy instruction: information behaviour of translation trainees Journal of Information Science, 33 (5) 2007, pp. 531–550Subrahmanyam, T. (1983). A study of information-seeking behaviourSubrahmanyam, T. (1983). A study of information seeking behaviour of doctoral candidates in social sciences. Herald of Library Science, 22(3), 200–204.Walker, J. R., Moen, William E., (2001) Identifying and CategorizingWalker, J. R., Moen, William E., (2001) Identifying and Categorizing Information Seeking Behaviors in the Networked Environment: An Exploratory Study of Young Adults, School of Library and Information Sciences University of North Texas, Final Report. [Avalilable at : http://home.swbell.net/walkerjr/ISBS/internetart.pdf (Date of access : 15/05/08)]Wilson, Thomas D, (2000). Human information behavior, Informing Science. Available at http://inform.nu/Articles/Vol3/v3n2p49-56.pdf