Role of social networks in consulting engineers' collaborative information behaviour

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the role of social networks in the information behaviour of consulting engineers. Wilson’s (1999; 2000) encapsulating information behaviour definition, and the contribution other researchers made to it, was used to develop an information behaviour framework for the study. In an in depth literature review it was learnt that engineering work is about team work and that engineers rely on their personal knowledge and expertise, as well as the knowledge and expertise of other experts in the field. This was confirmed by the findings of the empirical study. Throughout the literature review it was shown that the interaction between elements in the context and the personal dimension gives rise to information needs, which in turn prompt certain information behaviour activities. Narrative inquiry, a relatively new information behaviour data collection and analysis technique, guided the study. Fifteen consulting engineers who are involved in building projects participated in the study. Two chapters were dedicated to data analysis where the engineers’ stories of an engineering project were re-storied to learn more about the context of engineering work and how engineers operate. The findings revealed that the team members of projects involving consulting engineers come from different organisations. It was found that consulting engineers collaboratively seek, gather, use, communicate and share information. Interdependency emerged as a prominent element in the effective structures of consulting engineers’ personal dimension and evidently plays an important role in collaborative information behaviour in consulting engineers’ team work. It serves as a contributing factor in the natural forming of their social networks, which proved to be important sources of engineering information. The findings contributed to the refinement of the information behaviour framework developed for the purpose of this study. The framework graphically illustrates consulting engineers’ information behaviour. This study contributes to an understanding of the important role social networks play in consulting engineers’ successful accomplishment of engineering projects in everyday lifeInformation ScienceD.Litt. et Phil. (Information Science

Use of Mobile Social Media for Academic Activities by Undergraduate Students at the Federal University of Lafia, Nigeria

In this article, we report on a phenomenological study that explored the use of mobile social media by 21 undergraduate students registered at the Federal University of Lafia, Nigeria, to support their academic-related information needs and activities. Furthermore, in the study, we attempted to acquire an understanding of why these students seem to prefer using their mobile devices and the ways in which their use of mobile devices affect their academic-related information seeking. Following an explanation of what social media entails, the discussion focused on the ways in which information-behaviour elements such as context, the user’s inner person and information needs affect users’ information-seeking, searching and collaborative activities on social media. Also, mobile social media seems to distract social media users’ attention. A semi-structured interview schedule was employed to collect data from 21 students representing different year groups. The findings revealed that the convenience of using mobile social media and the ease with which the students could access information made social media a preferred platform for information-seeking and transfer purposes. However, the participants admitted that retrieving academic information on their mobile devices was difficult

Investigating the influences of context on the information seeking behaviour of first-generation students

This paper reports on a qualitative study investigating the information seeking behaviour of first-generation students enrolled at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Humanities’ Mastering Academic and Professional Skills programme. The purpose is to determine the way in which their socio-economic situations influenced their ability to solve information problems. The target population come from low-income families with low social and cultural capacity in their home environment. A qualitative phenomenological research approach was followed. A purposive convenience sample was drawn from the target population. A total of 17 students participated in the study. Qualitative data analysis procedures were used with inductive reasoning as an open-ended approach. The data were collected using interviews with an open- and close-ended interview schedule. Both contextual (environmental) and personal experiences influence the information seeking behaviour of first-generation students. Information literacy as an intervention served as a catalyst to change the students’ information seeking behaviour. An understanding of first-generation students’ information seeking behaviour can provide insights for librarians on the way in which to meet these students’ information needs.Peer Reviewe