Information Seeking in Context: Results of Graduate Student Interviews

Abstract

The authors conducted a qualitative research study examining the information seeking behaviours of Psychology, Sociology, and Women's Studies graduate students at a large research intensive university to determine: how graduate students find information; the roles that faculty members, fellow graduate students and librarians play in the information search; and graduate students' knowledge of information resources and services. The context of graduate student information seeking was uncovered through an analysis of the data using the trichotomy of people, place and information. Across the disciplines, M.A. students were more likely to ask for librarian assistance than Ph.D. students. The interview findings will be used to improve librarian support to M.A. students via a tailored instruction plan. The authors recommend a series of several (e.g., approximately four to eight) brief (e.g., ten-minute), strategically timed sessions offered via a first-year mandatory research methods course. The sessions introduce students to key resources, explain the role librarians can play in their research, and advertise the office hours service. This enhanced librarian support will ensure that all new graduate students have a common information seeking knowledge base and that they understand the services offered by their liaison librarians. Most importantly, it places librarians in close proximity to graduate students, providing opportunities to uncover and address their actual research needs. Future research will look at the effectiveness of this plan in supporting graduate students with their research.

Is Information-Seeking Behavior of Doctoral Students Changing?: A Review of the Literature (2010–2015)

“…For instance, Jamali and Nicholas (2006) found that doctoral students tend to use word of mouth more than more senior researchers. On the other hand, Sloan and McPhee (2013) suggest that the physical and social structure of an academic department, as well as the overall structure of the campus, may influence the relationships doctoral students develop with their fellow doctoral students, faculty and librarians. The authors found that graduate students were more likely to seek assistance from faculty or their supervisor for information about their research, while for any other type of information (like more general questions) they would consult their fellow graduate students; looking specifically at doctoral students within this group, it was found that they were less likely to seek assistance from both fellow students, faculty and librarians.…”

“…Barriers that refrain doctoral students from asking help from librarians are manifold and varied. Sloan and McPhee (2013) refers to the need for instant help, uncertainty about what can be asked or late working hours. Chen and Brown (2012), on the other hand, identifies a series of reasons for which international students, and in particular Chinese students, may not want to seek help from a librarian.…”

First-year international graduate students’ transition to using a United States university library

“…The library literature on the information seeking behaviors and needs of graduate students in general is also relevant (Catalano, 2013; Sloan and McPhee, 2013; Spezi, 2016). However, there is little that focuses specifically on international graduate students (Chen and Brown, 2012; Liu and Winn, 2009; Morrissey and Given, 2006).…”

Meeting graduate student needs: an exploration of disciplinary differences

“…Subject librarians have interviewed graduate students in their individual disciplines to meet their research needs (Jabbar, 2019;Moore & Singley, 2019;Sloan & McPhee, 2013). Several surveys explored ways to engage specific departments, research groups, and organizations (Fong, 2014;Fong & Hansen, 2012;Hart et al, 2019).…”