INFORMATION SEEKING
Neal-Schuman, 1982
CONTENTS
List of Tables.....vii
List of Figures.....ix
Foreword.....xi
Preface.....xiii
1. Introduction.....1
2. A Concept of Information Seeking.....9
Research Areas Identified for this Study.....15
Information Providers and Information Seekers.....16
Barriers to Effective Information Seeking.....18
Study Process.....21
Objectives.....22
Methodology.....23
Survey Instrument.....25
Limitations to the Study.....29
3. Information - Seeking Patterns.....33
Respondents' Demographics.....35
Situation Articulation.....37
Information-Seeking Situations.....42
Work and Non-Work Situations Looked at Together.....44
Work and Non-Work Situations Looked at Separately.....47
Situations in Relation to the Categories Specified by the White
House Conference on Library and Information Services.....50
Information Providers.....51
Level of Satisfaction with Information Providers.....54
Most Helpful Providers.....54
Least Helpful Providers.....57
Criteria in Information Seeking.....65
Most Important Criteria.....66
Least Important Criteria.....73
Paired Comparisons of Information-Seeking Criteria.....76
4. Library Use and Non-Use.....83
Library Use.....84
Library Use Within Major Situation Categories.....88
Health Situations.....94
Non-Use of Libraries.....96
Library Non-Use Within Major Situation Categories.....101
Information Access.....102
5. Conclusions and Implications.....105
Information Services to Special Populations.....106
Expanding Information Services.....107
Technology.....111
Marketing.....14
Public Relation.....118
Sources of Alternative Funding.....120
Future Studies.....121
Situation Categories.....121
Relationship Among Information Providers.....122
Special Population Needs.....124
Networks.....124
Alternative Funding Sources.....125
Appendix I Supplementary lnformation on
Research Methodology.....129
Appendix II Survey Questionnaire.....143
Appendix III Statistical Weighting of Respondent Education
Variable and Sampling Errors.....171
Appendix IV A List of Component Topics for Each Situation.....175
Appendix V Most Important Factors.....185
Index.....199