Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 P.H.D. Student, Information Science and Knowledge, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Information Science and Knowledge, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Information Science and Knowledge, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and objectives: The main purpose of this research is aimed at identifying Patterns of information seeking and retrieval behaviors among PhD candidates of Mohaghegh Ardabili University based on data valuation.

Methodology:The research has been conducted in synthetic method, both quantitative and qualitative. The research method in quantitative part was quasi-experimental, and in terms of qualitative method, content analysis was used. The data, in the quantitative method, has been collected with questionnaire and by observation and semi-structured interview has been chosen for qualitative method.The participants of present survey were 48 P.H.D. students in humanity fields in Mohaghegh Ardabili University who were selected by purposeful sampling. Data were collected in two stages of completing demographic and search experience questionnaires, Researcher-made questionnaire of value and observation of search task completion behavior and textual analysis of interviewed content using images recorded from users in Camtasia studio software. value questionnaire is divided to intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value and perceived cost. Researcher-made questionnaire of value and observation of search task completion behavior and textual analysis of interviewed content using images recorded from users in Camtasia studio software. to elaborate upon the outcomes received from the research data Mean and standard deviation, single variable t-tests, Pearson's correlation and analysis of variance ANOVA analysis was performed.

Findings: the analysis is indicative that the state of intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value and the perceived cost of seeking and retrieval information is in a favorable state and above the average level (3). Users who give more value to seeking and retrieving information use fewer but more relevant strategies and techniques and spend less time, while users who give less value use more unrelated strategies and techniques and spend more time.

Discussion: perceived value as a cognitive motivational factor affects users' information search and retrieval behavior. Perceptual values of people affect their priorities and choices and bring about further progress in academic and scientific fields for them.

Keywords perceived value, Information seeking behavior, information search and retrieval, motivation

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