Effect of Information Literacy (IL) Group Training on Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB)

Abstract

The main purpose of present research is to compare the effects of IL group training on ISB of postgraduate students at University of Isfahan (UI), Isfahan, Iran. Design/methodology/approach: Purposing to approach this goal, 30 students of UI were selected through voluntary sampling, and then randomly divided into two groups (one as experimental and one as control). The experimental groups were separately under IL training for a period of 6 sessions. The instruments of the research were Information Literacy Test (ILT) and Choo and colleagues’ Model of Information Seeking Behaviors on Web which their reliability and validity confirmed.

Findings: The results of variance analysis indicate the effectiveness of different instructional methods, and significant increment of ISB and IL. In other words, the approaches of IL’s training performed through a group approach have caused the enhancement of ISB of UI students. Also, the differences of IL’s and ISB’s scores in two groups of experimental and control were persistent when being pursued. Originality/value: This paper offers a practical method to identify IL level and ISB toward fulfilling information needs.

Keywords: Information Seeking Behavior, Information Literacy, Group Education, University of Isfahan, Iran