Analysis of Information Seeking Behavior Research Trends in Iran

Zerehsaz, Mohammad; Jooshideh, Adnan; Akhshik, Somayeh

doi:10.22034/ijism.2023.1977935.0

Analysis of Information Seeking Behavior Research Trends in Iran

Document Type : Articles

Authors

Mohammad Zerehsaz ¹

Adnan Jooshideh ²

Somayeh Akhshik ³

¹ Information behavior, Information-seeking behavior, Information-search behavior, Research Methodology, Research Context, Theoretical Development of Research, Iran.

² MSc Student, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

³ Assistant Prof., Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/ijism.2023.1977935.0

Abstract

This study explored its research trends by examining Iran's methods, contexts, and theories of information behavior research. This study is applied research regarding objectives and a content analysis regarding methodology. The research population consisted of 325 studies on information behavior. A researcher-made checklist was used to collect data, the validity of which was confirmed by experts. According to the researcher-made checklist, 325 data were analyzed based on the variables of each section. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and SPSS software (version 22). The results indicated the dominance of the quantitative approach and, consequently, the application of statistical analysis tools and methods related to this approach in relevant studies. In addition, most investigations were practical in this field, and therefore, fewer theoretical-philosophical studies and, in other words, fundamental research have been addressed in this field. There is no diversity in studies methodologically, and most of the reviewed studies, while referring to influential research in this field in their backgrounds, do not pay attention to their methodologies. Most of the research works are copies of previous studies conducted using quantitative, applied, and survey methods, and the desired population has changed only in some cases. Moreover, the scope of disciplines and specialties involved in the research production and studies reflects the interdisciplinary nature of this field with emphasis on knowledge and information science. The approach of information behavior research is expanding in various contexts with the presence of different types of users. However, it seems that the information behavior of the general public is less considered, and new studies are required in this regard. Research and studies conducted on information behavior in Iran have mainly considered the international models in this field, and some studies have even attempted to modify them. Few researchers have also proposed new models in this field, some of which have been published in international papers.

Keywords

Information behavior

Information-seeking behavior

Information-search behavior

Research Methodology

Research Context

Theoretical Development of Research

Iran

20.1001.1.20088302.2024.22.1.5.2

Adhami, A. (2004). What is the information Seeking and Behavior of Information Seeking? Iranian Journal of Information Processing & Management, 19 (3 & 4), 31-36. Retrieved from https://jipm.irandoc.ac.ir/article_698684_086263aa28c5b872eb40b1b25b59c1de.pdf?lang=en [in Persian]

Ahmadi, H. & Yari, S. (2014). A review on information seeking behavior literature in Iran. Iranian Journal of Information Processing and Management, 30 (1),173-197. https://doi.org/10.35050/JIPM010.2014.006 [in Persian]

Asadi Gorgani., F. (1987). Examining how welfare experts can access the necessary resources and documents. Master Thesis, Iran University of Medical Sciences. [in Persian]

Azami, M. & Davarpanah, M. (2013). The information needs and information-seeking behavior in Iran: A review of literature and studies. Journal of Kerman School of Medical Management and Information, 1 (1), 65-79. Retrieved from https://jms.kmu.ac.ir/article-1-27-fa.pdf [in Persian]

Case, D. O. (2007). Looking for information: A survey of research on information seeking, needs, and behavior. Second edition. San Diego: Academic Press.

Davarpanah, M. & Azami, M. (2011). Information needs and information behavior among nurses: Review of previous studies. Journal of Research on Information Science and Public Libraries, 17 (3), 427-453. http://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.26455730.1390.17.3.3.3 [in Persian]

Dilmaghani, M. (1996). Investigating the information-seeking behavior of mechanical engineering faculty members in acquiring specialized information in five universities in Tehran. Master Thesis, Tarbiat Modares University. [in Persian]

Ford, G. (1973). Progress in documentation; research in user behavior in university libraries. Journal of Documentation, 29(1), 85-106. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb026552

Gaston, N. M. (2017). Contextualizing Information Behavior: A Methodological Approach. Journal of Critical Library and Information Studies, 1: 2-33.

Greifeneder, E. (2014). Trends in information behavior research. The information behavior conference, 19(4). Retrieved from https://informationr.net/ir/19-4/isic/isic13.html

Jafarzadeh, R. & Fadaei Iraqi, G. (2017). Finding the roots of information-seeking behavior studies using the bibliometric approach. National Studies of Library and Information Organization, 28(1), 113-124. [in Persian]

Julien, H. (1996). A content analysis of the recent information needs and uses literature. Library & Information Science Research, 18 (1), 53-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0740-8188(96)90030-4

Julien, H. & Duggan, L. J. (2000). A longitudinal analysis of the information needs and uses literature. Library & information science research, 22 (3), 291-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0740-8188(99)00057-2

Julien, H., Pecoskie, J. J. & Reed, K. (2011). Trends in information behavior research, 1999–2008: A content analysis. Library & Information Science Research, 33(1), 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2010.07.014

Karbal Aghaie Kamran, M. & Rezaie Sharif Abadi, S. (2009). Information seeking behavior articles in Persian Journals between 1996 and 2009. Academic Librarianship and Information Research, 43 (2), 45-69. [in Persian]

Kim, E. (2017). The trends in information behavior research, 2000-2016: The emergence of new topical areas. Journal of the Korean Biblia Society for Library and Information Science, 28(2), 119-135. http://doi.org/10.14699/kbiblia.2017.28.2.119

Kim, E. (2019). A comparative analysis of research on LIS information behavior and health information seeking behavior. Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science, 30(2), 167-187.

Lin, N. & Garvey, W. (1972). Information needs and uses. In Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, vol. 7, Carlos A. Cuadra (ed), Washington, DC: American Society for Information Science.

Marchionini, G. (1995), Information-Seeking in Electronic Environments, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Masoumi, F. (1992). Examining the information needs of pharmaceutical science specialists and providing a suitable model to meet their needs. Master Thesis, Iran University of Medical Sciences. [in Persian]

Mirzaei, E., Hariri, N. & Matlabi, D. (2020). A meta-analysis of the factors affecting information seeking behavior in Iran and the world. Research on Information Science & Public Libraries 26(3), 415-438. http://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.26455730.1399.26.3.5.8 [in Persian]

Mokhtarpour, R. & Keshvari, M. (2015). Methodological approach to models and information-seeking studies: comparing the situation inside and outside the country. Human Information Interaction, 2(3), 43-60. http://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.24237418.1394.2.3.5.6 [in Persian]

Nowkarizi, M. & Davarpanah, M. (2006). Analysis of information behavior models. Library and Information Science Research, 9 (2), 119-152. [in Persian]

Parmar, A. S., Sanghmitra A. K. & Thushara P. (2007) Bibliometric analysis of information seeking behavior related literature. Journal of Library and Information Science, 29(1/2), 55-64.

Pourkhalil, N. & Koohi Rostami, M. (2020). Analysis of information behavior paradigms: Past and present. Human Information Interaction. 7 (3), 50-65. http://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.24237418.1399.7.3.3.9 [in Persian]

Savolainen, R. (2007). Information Behavior and information practice: Reviewing the 'Umbrella concept" of information seeking studies. Library Quarterly. 77(2), 109-132. https://doi.org/10.1086/517840

Wilson, T. (1999). Models in information behavior research. Journal of Documentation. 55(3), 249-270. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000007145

Wilson, T. (2000). Human information behavior. Informing Science 3 (2), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.28945/576

YaminFiroz, M., NooshinFard, F. & Siamian, H. (2012). The concepts and characteristics of Wilson’s information seeking behavior model: A literature review. Health Information Management, 9(4), 567-579. [in Persian]