Modelling information‐seeking behaviour of graduate students at Kuwait University

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to report the results of research conducted to model the information‐seeking behaviour of graduate students at Kuwait University and the factors influencing that behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed a number of different approaches: a questionnaire survey to 800 graduate students studying at Kuwait University; a questionnaire survey to 180 academics at the university; semi‐structured interviews with eight academics; face‐to‐face and online interviews with 11 university library staff, four focus groups with 24 students and three focus groups with ten faculty staff.

Findings

Significant factors influencing students' information‐seeking behaviour were found to be related to library awareness, information literacy, organisational and environmental issues, source characteristics, and demographics (specifically gender and nationality).

Research limitations/implications

The research focused on graduate students at a Kuwait University which is affiliated to the government sector, however, the information seeking model is more widely applicable, particularly to other developing countries.

Originality/value

Proposed is an information‐seeking model that extended two other relevant and influential models of information‐seeking behaviour. The extended model shows promise for its intended utility in identifying factors that influence the information behaviour of graduate students.

Citation

Al‐Muomen, N., Morris, A. and Maynard, S. (2012), "Modelling information‐seeking behaviour of graduate students at Kuwait University", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 68 No. 4, pp. 430-459. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411211239057

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