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A context‐based investigation into source use by information seekers

Author

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  • Naresh Kumar Agarwal
  • Yunjie (Calvin) Xu
  • Danny C.C. Poo

Abstract

An important question in information‐seeking behavior is where people go for information and why information seekers prefer to use one source type rather than another when faced with an information‐seeking task or need for information. Prior studies have paid little attention to contingent variables that could change the cost‐benefit calculus in source use. They also defined source use in one way or the other, or considered source use as a monolithic construct. Through an empirical survey of 352 working professionals in Singapore, this study carried out a context‐based investigation into source use by information seekers. Different measures of source use have been incorporated, and various contextual variables that could affect the use of source types have been identified. The findings suggest that source quality and access difficulty are important antecedents of source use, regardless of the source type. Moreover, seekers place more weight on source quality when the task is important. Other contextual factors, however, are generally less important to source use. Seekers also demonstrate a strong pecking order in the use of source types, with online information and face‐to‐face being the two most preferred types.

Suggested Citation

  • Naresh Kumar Agarwal & Yunjie (Calvin) Xu & Danny C.C. Poo, 2011. "A context‐based investigation into source use by information seekers," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 62(6), pages 1087-1104, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jamist:v:62:y:2011:i:6:p:1087-1104
    DOI: 10.1002/asi.21513
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    Cited by:

    1. Tim Gorichanaz, 2020. "Understanding and Information in the Work of Visual Artists," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 71(6), pages 685-695, June.
    2. Jaworski Jacek & Sokołowska Katarzyna & Kondraszuk Tomasz, 2017. "Sources of Strategic Information in Farm Management in Poland. Study Results," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 25(1), pages 98-120, March.
    3. Tim Gorichanaz, 2022. "Relating information seeking and use to intellectual humility," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 73(5), pages 643-654, May.

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