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