Information usage by biological researchers

Abstract

Continuing change in the provision of, and access to, scien tific information has stimulated interest in the nature of current information usage by scientists. Recent studies have looked at this question in terms of science as a whole. The present study complements these by concentrating on the biological sciences only. It surveys research information usage in four institutions - a university agricultural faculty, a university school of biology, a government research estab lishment and a pharmaceutical laboratory - and comple ments a study of information technology usage by biological researchers which has already appeared. It is found that biologists have a spread of information needs which paral lels in its diversity that of all the sciences taken together. Changes in information-handling in biology are occurring, but to differing extents, depending on the institution and the biological specialism.

Broad exploration or precise specificity: Two basic information seeking patterns among students

“…In this environment, information is seen as a recipe and encyclopedia of facts. The most common and convenient way to meet a specific information need is to ask a colleague at the workplace or in the field (Noble & Coughlin, 1997; Rolinson, Al‐Shanbari, & Meadows, 1995). The specificity of topic may also center the sources of information on specialized journals.…”