This study investigated the relationships between the online searching behavior of novice searchers and three measures of learning style--the Learning Style Inventory (LSI), the Remote Association Test (RAT), and the Symbolic Reasoning Test (SRT). The three tests were administered to 76 graduate students during the first class meeting of a…

Outlines a behavioral approach to information retrieval system design based on the derivation of a behavioral model of the information-seeking patterns of academic social scientists. The extent to which identified information-seeking characteristics are supported by existing systems is considered, and requirements for implementing these features…

This research project investigated the information seeking behavior of Syracuse University doctoral students in six disciplines--economics, English, geology, history, philosophy, and physics. Questionnaires distributed to 112 students elicited data from 69 respondents (61.6%) on their educational environment, search strategies, selection of…

Describes the methodology and results of the log analysis for the Alcohol Studies Database (ASDB), a domain-specific database supported by the Center of Alcohol Studies at Rutgers University Libraries. The objectives were to better understand user search behavior, to analyze failure rates, and to develop approaches for improving the user…

A survey of 95 first-year and 91 fourth-year dental students concerning informatics and computer applications in dentistry investigated knowledge of terms and concepts related to hardware, software, electronic communication, and dental applications; opinions concerning use of the technology; and extent of experience in 4 areas of use. (MSE)

An introductory graduate course on Internet use in education included the semester-long development of an electronic journal of student-discovered Internet resources for education, and posting the results to a dedicated listserv. Over 200 Internet sites were contributed. The study profiled how educators in an academic course found resources they…

Graduate schools have been admitting more and more students older than the "traditional" 18- to 24-year-old campus population. These adult learners may come to their programs of study without formal training in library use in general or literature searches in particular. By examining various successful and unsuccessful strategies used by…

Library staff at State University of New York at Albany surveyed 96 patrons in a 2-month period regarding their Internet usage. Gender, college status, and prior experience were sources of differences in searching and browsing behavior and in attitudes toward Internet usefulness. Libraries should actively create new Internet access points and…