Understanding student information behavior in relation to electronic information services: lessons from longitudinal monitoring and evaluation, part 2

Urquhart, Christine and Rowley, Jennifer (2007) Understanding student information behavior in relation to electronic information services: lessons from longitudinal monitoring and evaluation, part 2. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 58 (8). pp. 1188-1197. ISSN 1532-2890

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Abstract

This second part of a two-part article establishes a model of the mediating factors that influence student information behavior concerning the electronic or digital information sources used to support learning. This part discusses the findings of the Joint Information Systems Committee User Behavior Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (1999-2004) and development of a model that includes both the individual (micro) and organizational (macro) factors affecting student information behavior. The macro factors are information resource design, information and learning technology infrastructure, availability and constraints to access, policies and funding, and organizational leadership and culture. The micro factors are information literacy, academics' information behavior, search strategies, discipline and curriculum, support and training, and pedagogy. We conclude that the mediating factors interact in unexpected ways and that further research is needed to clarify how those interactions, particularly between the macro and micro factors, operate.