The aim of this study was to investigate the use of electronic information resources by postgraduate students at UNISA Regional Learning Centre in Ethiopia and to identify the problems they experience when using the UNISA online library. The literature review focuses on students’ information-seeking behaviour, with a particular emphasis on their usage of electronic information resources. Previous studies indicated that the context in which students’ information needs and their information-seeking behaviour arise can be determined by contextual and personal elements or factors. This study adopted a qualitative case study approach. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data from eight postgraduate students which were conveniently selected. The data were analysed by using a thematic data analysis technique. The study established that the majority of the respondents used electronic information resources. However, the availability of Internet connections and electricity determined the frequency with which e-resources were used. The students used information resources for various purposes, including for course work, doing assignments, preparing for examination, writing proposals, for literature reviews, for writing Master’s dissertations and doctoral theses, and for research. The study revealed that postgraduate students had basic computer and information literacy skills; however, they lacked more advanced skills and this negatively affected their usage of electronic information resources. The findings also reported that a lack of ICT infrastructure, such as limited Internet access, inadequate Internet connectivity and frequent electric power interruptions were the main factors that affected postgraduate students’ electronic information-seeking behaviour. Besides, the remoteness and poor facilities of the Akaki Branch Library also had a negative impact on students’ information usage. Recommendations are made in order to maximise the utilisation of electronic information resources and address students’ skills deficiencies experienced while they are using electronic information resource. / Information Science / M. A. (Information Science)

Access and use of information facilitate the improvement of agriculture in rural areas. It is therefore important to ensure that adequate and appropriate information flows to the rural areas, and that farmers are able to utilise it. This study investigated the access and use of poultry management information in three rural districts of Tanzania, namely Iringa Rural, Morogoro Rural and Mvomero. The survey method, supplemented by methodological triangulation, was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 360 poultry farmers in the selected rural communities. Sixteen focus group discussions were conducted, in which 160 farmers participated. Twenty-two information providers were interviewed. The SPSS® software was used to analyse quantitative data, while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. The findings indicated that poultry farmers needed information on poultry disease control, poultry protection, shelter for poultry and poultry production. There was very low identification and prioritisation of farmers’ information needs by the information providers. Farmers accessed information that had a direct impact and was deemed relevant to their farming activities. It was revealed that farmers accessed information mainly from interpersonal sources. Likewise, farmers preferred interpersonal and informal sources to formal sources of information. The extension officers were considered to be the most effective information source, followed by family, friends, and neighbours. Various factors, such as lack of awareness, unavailability of extension officers and poor infrastructure, influenced access and use of poultry management information. It was concluded that most of the information providers were not aware of the farmers’ information needs, and as a result they were not in a position to disseminate relevant information. In addition, farmers were used to an oral culture, which means that they would probably continue to depend on interpersonal sources of information, regardless of the availability of formal channels and modern sources. The study recommended several measures, including the use of multiple sources of information and delivery of information in a variety of formats, in order to accommodate various categories of farmers. The study also suggested some areas for further research. Furthermore, a model for effective dissemination of poultry management information in rural areas was proposed. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-19T11:50:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 giordano2011.pdf: 2582955 bytes, checksum: c0171aa80d31dbb90fb7d12e09f88c6d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-22 / In the Information Science‟s constitutive origin, the information search and retrieval process has represented new challenges for its development, given the changes determined by the advent and growth of the web. Given the exponentially increase of information‟s volume on the web, the number and diversity of users, and the increasing use of search engines, this research contributes to enhancing the understanding of users‟ information behavior. This work is focused on the identification and analysis of the behavior adopted by postgraduate students in Information Science at an experience of scientific information search and retrieval on the web. Subjects related to information retrieval for scientific production, information retrieval on web, information and digital literacy, as well as user‟s information behavior are specially studied. The field research encompassed the application of an integrated set of instruments, such as questionnaire and interview, developed from the critical incident technique, methodology related to the investigation‟s field Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA). From the data collected was possible to identify the paths chosen by the target population, as well as the decision making, strategies selected, difficulties experienced, and the improvements recognized along the process of scientific information search and retrieval on the web. The results show essentially deficiency of planning and reflection during the process. The results showed different aspects of planning and completion of the search and recovery, relevant to the professional development in relation to the collection and use of information / Na origem constitutiva da Ciência da Informação, o processo de busca e recuperação da informação tem representado novos desafios para seu desenvolvimento, face às mudanças determinadas pelo advento e crescimento da web. Diante do volume exponencialmente crescente de informações nesta depositadas, do número e diversidade de usuários e do aumento crescente da utilização de mecanismos de busca, esta pesquisa contribui para ampliar o entendimento do comportamento informacional de usuários especializados neste cenário. O trabalho visa à identificação e à análise do comportamento adotado por pós-graduandos em Ciência da Informação ao realizarem busca e recuperação de informação científica na web. Aprofundou-se especialmente o estudo sobre assuntos relacionados a recuperação da informação para produção científica, recuperação da informação na web, letramento informacional e digital, bem como comportamento informacional dos usuários. Na pesquisa de campo, foi realizada a aplicação de um conjunto integrado de instrumentos, composto por um questionário e pela realização de uma entrevista, desenvolvidos sob a perspectiva da técnica do incidente crítico, metodologia pertinente ao campo de investigação de Análise da Tarefa Cognitiva (CTA). A partir dos dados coletados, mapeou-se o percurso adotado pela população-alvo, assim como foram identificadas as tomadas de decisão, as estratégias adotadas, as dificuldades encontradas e o aprendizado adquirido no processo de busca e recuperação de informação científica na web. Os resultados apontaram diferentes aspectos sobre o planejamento e a realização do processo de busca e recuperação, relevantes para o aprimoramento profissional em relação à obtenção e utilização da informação

Examining human interaction networks contributes to an understanding of factors that improve and constrain collaboration. This study examined multiple network levels of information exchanges within a public service model designed to strengthen community partnerships by connecting city services to the neighborhoods. The research setting was the Neighbourhood Integrated Service Teams (NIST) program in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. A literature review related information dimensions to the municipal structure, including social network theory, social network analysis, social capital, transactive memory theory, public goods theory, and the information environment of the public administration setting. The research method involved multiple instruments and included surveys of two bounded populations. First, the membership of the NIST program received a survey asking for identification of up to 20 people they contact for NIST-related work. Second, a network component of the NIST program, 23 community centre coordinators in the Parks and Recreation Department, completed a survey designed to identify their information exchanges relating to regular work responsibilities and the infusion of NIST issues. Additionally, 25 semi-structured interviews with the coordinators and other program members, collection of organization documents, field observation, and feedback sessions provided valuable insight into the complexity of the model. This research contributes to the application of social network theory and analysis in information environments and provides insight for public administrators into the operation of the model and reasons for the program's network effectiveness.

Mgr. Ivana Příbramská: Informační systémy ve vysokém školství s důrazem na identifikaci uživatelů, informačních potřeb a jejich uspokojování (dizertační práce) Abstract Focus of this thesis is on users in tertiary education and on the extent, to which their information needs are met by information systems and resources provided by both higher education institutions and other organizations. Second chapter sets up a theoretical framework, summarizing research in the field of the information seeking and information seeking behavior, models of information seeking, information needs and their satisfaction. Third chapter describes higher education area and its role in information provision to the users (coming from both within and outside the area); all users within this area are classified and their information needs and sources for satisfaction of these needs are listed. Fourth chapter is concerned with information systems in higher education in Czech Republic including classifications used within this field, national systems collecting data from higher education institutions and short description of three local information systems. Final chapter describes two examples of implementation process and further development of two particular information systems used at the Charles University in Prague and on the...

Introduction. The aim of this master thesis is to examine how students at Uppsala university manage, organize, and preserve their study-related information in a digital environment. It also investigates the motivations for personal information management (PIM) among students, and explores the concepts of sense making as both an activity and a desired outcome. The thesis focuses on the respondents’ experiences and behaviours in terms of PIM in relation to their digital collections.  Method. The research is based on 12 interviews with 9 exchange students, which were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts constituted the data for analysis.  Analysis. Interview data was analysed qualitatively with Nvivo software. Concepts were defined so that they could be used in the survey. Results. The study found that the five metalevels of PIM activities proposed by William Jones (2008) were applicable to the interview data, and that the respondents used a variety of digital tools and storage options, including cloud services, text editors and desktop applications, to organize and manage their information collections. Results are also presented in relation to Soo Jin Park’s (2011) three types of organizing and managing information collections.  Conclusion. The results showed that reflection on PIM and planning over time can lead to meaning-making and motivation for personal development. The degree of effort in organizing and managing information collections varied according to the individual values, personality, and contextual situations. The participants’ most common software for data storage were cloud services, text editors and web pages, with laptops, computers and mobile phones being the most popular devices for data storage. Some also had external hard drives as backup solutions and strict rules for discipline regarding PIM. While many participants trusted cloud storage when it came to privacy, some participants were skeptical of large IT companies and tried to find their own strategies to become less dependent on them. The majority made informed choices due to the risk of data loss and fragmentation. They had a profile of cognitive skills that included the ability to use visual messages to create unification and transparency in systems. They had a mix of dynamic and large collections of data.  They preferred to structure their files in a specific and structured system. Some preferred to file in more well-defined locations, while others used a more flexible method of organization. The majority had a one folder filing strategy. Some had file systems with a top-down approach, while others used incremental bottom-up strategies. They used a variety of PIM tools and strategies to meet their changing needs, such as using descriptive file names, splitting projects into smaller collections, regularly reviewing and deleting older files and categorize files by date. The study provided valuable insights into the process of managing digital information and the importance of continuous evaluation and adaptation of PIM tools and strategies to meet the changing needs of participants.  This is a two years master’s thesis in Archival Science.

Informationskompetenz umfasst kognitive und technische Fähigkeiten wie das Erkennen von Informationsbedürfnissen, die Entwicklung effektiver Suchstrategien und die ethische Nutzung von Informationen. Dieses Konzept hat sich mit der Verbreitung des Internets in den 1990er Jahren weiterentwickelt und die Einführung von Computer-, Digital- und Medienkompetenz mit sich gebracht. Die mobile Welle hat das Konzept weiter komplexisiert, indem sie die Nutzererfahrung und -interaktion durch mobile Geräte revolutionierte. Informationskompetenz ist entscheidend, um die Auswirkungen der Technologie auf unsere Informationsinteraktion zu verstehen und ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil des Human-Engaged Computing (HEC), das darauf abzielt, das menschliche Potenzial durch sinnvolle Technologieinteraktion zu verbessern. Mobile Information Literacy (MoIL) betont die Notwendigkeit adaptiver Strategien, um die einzigartigen Merkmale mobiler Technologie und deren Einfluss auf das Suchverhalten zu berücksichtigen. Diese Studie untersucht die Dimensionen der Mobile Information Literacy (MoIL) bei Hochschulstudenten aus Deutschland und Ägypten und wie diese sich in der Nutzung mobiler Geräte zur Informationssuche manifestieren. Sie zeigt Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Kulturen auf. Die Studie nutzt ethnographische qualitative Forschungsmethoden, wobei Interviews das primäre Forschungsinstrument darstellen, ergänzt durch Beobachtungen, Tagebuchstudien und Experimente. Die Stichprobe umfasst zwei Gruppen von Studierenden: eine aus Ägypten und eine aus Deutschland. Die Feldforschung fand zwischen 2015 und 2018 statt und verwendete eine thematische Analyse, um aufkommende Themen zu identifizieren. Vier Hauptanalyselinsen wurden festgestellt: Informationsbedürfnisse in einer mobilen Welt, geräteübergreifendes Verhalten, Umgang mit mobilen Anwendungsökosystemen und Interaktion mit mobilen Geräten. Die Studie zeigt viele Ähnlichkeiten zwischen den Gruppen, jedoch auch Unterschiede, insbesondere bei der Auffassung von Urheberrechten, Datenschutz und sprachlichen Herausforderungen bei der Nutzung mobiler Geräte. / Information literacy is a multifaceted concept that involves cognitive and technical skills, such as recognizing information needs, developing effective information-seeking behavior, and ethically using information. It has evolved with each technological wave, with the Internet's popularity in the early 90s introducing computer, digital, and media literacies. The mobile wave has further complicated the concept as mobile devices revolutionize user experience and interaction. Information literacy is crucial in understanding how technology shapes our interactions with information and is a key aspect of Human-Engaged Computing (HEC), which aims to enhance human potential through meaningful interaction with technology. Mobile information literacy (MoIL) emphasizes the need for adaptive strategies to account for the unique features of mobile technology and its impact on information-seeking behaviors. This study explores the dimensions of mobile information literacy (MoIL) in higher education students from two cultures, German and Egyptian, and how these dimensions manifest in the use of mobile devices for information-seeking and meeting information needs. This study sheds light on the similarities and differences that exist between the two cultures. The study employs ethnographic qualitative research methods, with interviews serving as the primary research instrument, in addition to observation, diary study, and experimentation. The study sample included two groups of higher education students: an Egyptian higher education student group and a German higher education student group. The fieldwork took place between 2015 and 2018. The study applied thematic analysis to the data to identify emerging themes. Findings portrayed four major lenses of analysis, showing distinctive findings and comparing the two cultures. The emergent lenses were information needs in a mobile world, cross-device behavior, dealing with mobile application ecosystems, and interacting with mobile devices. The study highlights commonalities between the two groups among most of the themes. However, there were distinctive highlighted differences especially related to copyright understanding, privacy, and language-related challenges in interacting with mobile devices.

This research contributes to the cloud computing (CC) literature and information science research by addressing the reality of information sharing and storage behavior (ISSB) of the users' personal information via CC. Gathering information about usage also allows this research to address the paradox between the research and practice. Additionally, this research explores the concept of trust and its role in the behavioral change relative to CC. The findings help reconcile the paradox between the two realms. Essay1 develops and tests cloud computing usage model (CCUM) that assesses ISSB. This model considers the main adoption determinants and the main drawbacks of CC. The study measures the main concerns of users found in the literature, perceived security and perceived privacy. The findings prove surprising on these concerns. Using multiple regression to analyze 129 valid survey responses, the results find that CC users are less concerned about the major issues of security and privacy and will use the technology based on peer usage. Essay 2 examines why users ignore the technology issues and elect to replace the traditional mechanisms for handling their personal information. The results of an interview-based study conducted on 11 normal users and 11 IT professionals clarify their perceptions about CC and examine its readiness to handle their information from an end-user perspective. Essay 3 explores the CC literature to identify the major factors associated with the users' trust beliefs. The research conducted in this essay groups these factors into three categories. The posited and tested model examines the effect of perceived trust on ISSB. A structural equation modeling approach is used to analyze 1228 valid responses and tests the developed cloud computing trust model. The results provide multiple implications for CC researchers, managers, and service providers.

This exploratory, mixed-methods study investigated the relationship between information literacy and critical thinking. The research question guiding the first portion of the study was: How do information literacy and critical thinking relate in undergraduate students conducting academic research? Using two standardized assessments, the study assessed the information literacy and critical thinking skills of a small population of college students from a private, university in Texas. The correlational analysis of the scores from the two assessments showed a statistically significant, positive, moderate correlation. The study also explored the likelihood of gender differences in cognitive processing using information literacy and critical think skills assessments. The independent samples t-tests for both assessments demonstrated no statistically significant differences between female and male participants. Finally, a qualitative component comprised of a questionnaire provided context to the assessment scores through items requesting information on participant source selection priorities via the three middle stages of Kuhlthau's information search process model as well as their criteria for selecting sources of information. Though only a small number of the participants completed the questionnaire, the responses highlighted areas of interest for future research.

Diese kumulative Dissertation untersucht die Rolle von Informationen und Finanzkompetenz im deutschen Crowdinvesting-Markt. Die erste Studie erforscht den Zusammenhang zwischen dem Umfang der von Start-Ups auf Companisto veröffentlichen Informationen und dem Investitionsverhalten von Crowdinvestoren auf Basis proprietärer Nutzer-level Companisto-Daten. Meine Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass (unerfahrene) private Investoren, im Gegensatz zu institutionellen Investoren, auch „weiche“ Informationen im Rahmen ihrer Investitionsentscheidungen berücksichtigen. Meine zweite Studie untersucht das tatsächliche Informationsverhalten von Crowdinvestoren im Vorfeld von Investitionen auf Basis von Nutzer-level Google Analytics-Daten. Meine Ergebnisse suggerieren, dass Investoren einen Großteil der von Start-ups bereitgestellten Informationen im Vorfeld von Investitionen ignorieren. Darüber hinaus zeige ich auf, dass das Informationsverhalten von Investoren mit den demografischen Merkmalen, der Crowdinvesting-Erfahrung und den (durchschnittlichen) Investitionsbeträgen von Investoren zusammenhängt. Meine Ergebnisse deuten zudem darauf hin, dass Investoren beim Vorliegen potentieller Indikatoren für die Qualität eines Start-ups bzw. bei weniger riskanten Investitionen, weniger Information akquirieren. In meiner dritten Studie, welche ich gemeinsam mit Joachim Gassen durchführe, untersuche ich den kausalen Effekt einer Online-Finanzschulung auf das Informations- und Investitionsverhalten von Crowdinvestoren im Rahmen eines Feldexperiments auf Companisto. Während das Experiment noch nicht abgeschlossen ist, motiviert der in dieser Dissertation enthaltene Zwischenbericht die zugrundeliegende Forschungsfrage und beschreibt das Forschungsdesign. Die vorläufigen Ergebnisse zeigen auf, dass Crowdinvestoren im Vergleich zu repräsentativen Stichproben der Gesamtpopulation, welche vergleichbaren Studien zugrunde liegen, ein signifikant höheres Maß an finanzieller Grundkompetenz aufweisen. / This cumulative Ph.D. thesis investigates the role of information and financial literacy in the German crowdinvesting market. Using proprietary investor-level data from Companisto, one of the largest German crowdinvesting portals, the first paper explores how the magnitude of start-ups’ disclosures on Companisto is associated with crowdinvestors’ investment behavior. My findings suggest that the investment decisions by both retail and institutional crowdinvestors are positively associated with the magnitude of start-ups’ voluntary disclosures. However, while start-ups’ ‘soft’ disclosures seem to play a role in the decision-making of (inexperienced) retail investors, they appear to be irrelevant for the investment decisions of institutional investors. My second thesis paper uses investor-level Google Analytics data to explore investors’ actual information acquisition prior to investing. My results indicate that crowdinvestors tend to neglect a substantial fraction of start-ups’ disclosures before investing. Moreover, I show that investors’ information acquisition varies with their demographics, their level of crowdinvesting experience as well as their (average) investment amounts. My findings further suggest that investors acquire less information in the presence of potential signals of start-up quality and (thus) in cases where the investment appears to be less risky. In my third paper, which is co-authored by Joachim Gassen, I study the causal effect of online financial training on crowdinvestors’ information and investment behavior by conducting a field experiment on Companisto. While the experiment is still ongoing, the interim report included in my thesis motivates the overall research question and explains the research design. Our preliminary results indicate that, compared to survey samples representative for the overall population, crowdinvestors exhibit a significantly higher level of ‘basic’ financial literacy.