COMPARING INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN REAL AND VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS

摘要

As online resources expand in scope and depth, most researchers, whether in the humanities, social sciences, science or business, begin research online. Important differences between online resources accessible in real and virtual environments challenge users to develop new strategies for finding information. As a result, information seeking behavior (ISB) is being transformed to accommodate a new research landscape. The study presented here attempts to measure quantitatively and qualitatively the ways in which a user's online search strategies and outcomes are impacted by differences in information environments, and is designed to compare a user's ISB in the real (library) and virtual (home or work). Each student formulates and researches two topics - one humanities or social sciences topic at NYPL 42nd St., and one science or business topic at NYPL Science Industry and Business Library (SIBL). The same topics are researched first in the virtual from home or work. A survey measuring student perspectives on search experiences is designed to compare real and virtual ISB, and research outcomes. It indicates that the interaction of real and virtual information environments is setting new trends in ISB. Student journals recording daily research experience offer insight into ISB in complex research environments. Findings are also drawn from Pratt-SILS research institutes at NYPL and the Metropolitan Museum, Watson Library, where students participate in summer research institutes. As libraries plan for the future and reconfigure information services to best accommodate users, understanding how users connect and integrate print and digital resources in both real and virtual environments will be crucial to creating new and workable research environments.