Alethea Thomas

Academic Researchers

Case (2012) describes three basic categories:

Science – Math, Physics, Chemistry, Engineers

Social Science – Communication, Archeology, Criminology

Humanities – Literature, Philosophy, Religion

Who are Academic Researchers?

Academic Researchers seek to answer questions within their fields. These questions often require conducting studies or experiments.

What Resources do Academic Researchers use?

Personal relationships with their fellow colleagues is key

Intrapersonal

Specialized Peer

Reviewed Articles / Journals

LiteraturePersonal

Research / Experience

Scientists and Engineers

X X X

Social Sciences X X X

HumanitiesSome of the

timeX X X

Primary Sources of Information

Ellis (1989) identified six core characteristics of information seeking behaviors within the three major areas of academic research.

Starting Chaining – the following of referencesBrowsing – noncommittal searches Differentiating – judging the quality of a

resourceMonitoring – awareness of current publications Extracting – using information of importanceVerifying*Ending*

More access to colleagues around the worldSearchable digital databasesMore access to specialized journalsMore access to literature

Niu and Hemminger’s findings on the current information seeking behavior of academic researchers points to an over whelming use of bibliographic and citation databases.

Impact of the Internet

With this data in mind, how do we, as information professionals, meet the needs

of the Academic researcher?

Case, D. (2012). Looking for information: A survey of research on information seeking, needs, and behavior (3rd ed). United Kingdom, Emerald.

Herman, E. (2001). End-users in academia: meeting the information needs of university researchers in an electronic age. Part 2: innovative information-accessing opportunities and the researcher: user acceptance of IT-based information resources in academia. Aslib Proceedings, 53(10), 431-457.

Niu, X. & Hemminger, B. (2010, May). National study of information seeking behavior of academic researchers in the United States. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 61(5), 869-890.

References