Human Information Interaction

Background and Aim: This paper aims at the analysis of the definitions and categorizations of the realm of “Information Ethics” to criticize assumptions and clarify points of departure for introducing a new definition and categorization.

Method: I used documentary research method and conceptual analysis approach. This method and approach is the best fits with the goal of pursuit roots of social concepts and their pre-assumptions. After collecting all literature of the domain of “Information Ethics”, I tried to extract core definitions and categorizations and analyze their assumptions and points of departure. Then, I used the concepts extracted from all definitions and some aspects of the “General theory of Practice” (Pierre Bourdieu) and “Deconstruction” (Jacques Derrida) to introduce new definition and categorization of the domain of “Information Ethics”.

Results: Results shows that 20 original definitions have been offered and two main stream point of departure have been adopted, however, some other views such as legal, societal, Islamic, Marxian, Habermasian approaches have been introduced too. I adopted “access” and “position” as original points for categorization and used Derrida’s and Bourdieu’s viewpoints to offer a new sociological definition. I categorized social groups by their valuation on information production and consumption on the basis of Fuches’ viewpoints. Four social groups distinguished as “information consumer”, “prosumer (information producer-consumer)” “information producer” and “information governor”. Freedom of expression, censorship and content conrol and filtering is questions of the individuals that put in to the “position” of “information consumer”. Information security and information piracy is the core questions of information producers and information governors. Eventually, privacy, intellectual property and plagiarism is the questions of information procumers & information producers. 

Originality/Value: originality of this paper is about its new approach in the definition of “Information Ethics”. By this categorization we can argue about the “access problem” in terms of the “position” of individuals or groups in the production, consumption or governance of information

Background and Aim: These days, Internet and online databases play a significant role in peoples’ information-seeking behavior, especially for postgraduate students. The kind of behavior seen on the part of those students who get help from online databases to write their theses might be completely different from those who search library sources to get the needed information. This study investigates the information-seeking behavior of postgraduate students of Kharazmi University who are writing their theses.

Method: This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Quantitative data were gathered using an information-seeking behavior questionnaire, which was then, analyzed using statistical analysis (T-Test and Friedman-Test). Content analysis and semi-structured interviews were used to analyze qualitative data. The participants were 100 students including 50 male and 50 female students.

Results: Results of analyzing the T-Test for male and female groups showed that there is not any significant difference of girls' and boys' information-seeking behavior. Results of analyzing the Friedman-Test however showed difference in average ratings of information-seeking behavior dimensions. With regard to results obtained from this analysis: pre-existing knowledge confirmation, relevancy judgments, bringing up new thoughts, time and effort for searching information contain maximum to minimum rates in a respective manner. Results of the qualitative data also showed that: most of the students’ problems lie in: seeking for and using the collaborative behavior and collaborative searching, difficulty in finding the related information, language limitations, diversity of goals, limitations the forms of the sources, unfamiliarity with the specific sources, lack of information literacy, and spending so much time to search.

Conclusion: Findings obtained in this study showed that postgraduate students do not have the skills and knowledge needed for using online data. This also indicates their deficiency and lack of information seeking and information literacy skills. So, recognizing the obstacles on the way of knowing and using these online databases and training students for purposeful searching seem to be essential.

Background and Aim: Personal Information Management (PIM) process consists of four activities; acquisition, organization, maintenance and retrieval. Obviously this process is due to human limitations and expanding scope of personal space of information which has become an exhausting and difficult process. Use of technology and tools related to PIM could facilitate this procedure.

This survey study aims to investigate PIM behavior and its four activities among graduate students in the University of Birjand and was performed on the basis of digital environment.

Method: Population of this study was all graduate students at the University of Birjand in the 2013-2014 academic year. Self assessment questionnaire was used to collect information.

Results and Conclusion: The results show that the overall PIM and all four activities among graduate students at the University of Birjand were less than estimated desired rate and there were significant differences between PIM in various course studies, also among master's and doctoral students. Computer and laptop was most used tools for storage of personal collection, the most widely used method for organizing based on content and finally the most common method for retrieval of information was based on the explanatory notes.

Originality: personal information management filed is a relatively new area of research and yet little research was performed in PIM area in Iran. Meanwhile the studies perform, have less focused on the behavioral aspects of PIM and have been more observing PIM tools and affecting factors

Background and Aim: This study aimed to identify and Analyzing the structural and outward features and expected activities of a service-extension agricultural website, based on the views of experts in the field of agriculture and related sciences and webmasters and blogs in Iran.

Method: The methodological approach was a descriptive and survey study. The statistical population of the study consisted experts in the field of agriculture and related sciences and webmasters and blogs in this area, that 310 of them were selected by stratified random sampling method. Information was gathered through a questionnaire and its face validity was confirmed by expert viewes. Its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α= 0/88). Data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: The factor analysis results showed that views of experts in the field of structural features and outward of a service-extension website led to extraction six factors including user-friendly and interactive, availability and transparency of content, the ability to change according to the needs of the audience, update and authenticity of the content, unique content and comprehensiveness of content. Views of experts in the field of expected activities of a service-extension website led to extraction six factors including Banking facilities and interactive services, providing comprehensive and professional services (content and services), the online marketing and the introduction of rural farmers and provide extension services and information, social networking and provide successful models and dealing with farmers.

Conclusion: Use of ICT is one of the effective phenomena in the implementation of roles and extension services which has been led to the emergence of virtual extension. The application of this technology in agricultural extension in addition can meet the increasing demands of stakeholders and has created potentials and new opportunities for enhancing the capacities of outreaches and provide development of agricultural extension in new space

Background and Aim: This research aims to explore relation between health literacy and information literacy of post-graduate students in Ferdowsi university of Mashhad.

Method: This research is descriptive-correlational survey research. Population included post-graduate students of Ferdowsi university of Mashhad that 368 of them were selected via stratified sampling. Two Questionnaires were used for data collection. First one was Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) that was a reliable and valid instrument for measuring health literacy in Iran and include the following constructs: ability to read, ability and skills to access, understand, and appraise health information, make decisions, and practice in order to maintain or improve health. The second one was designed by the researchers in order to measure information literacy skills including four dimensions: identifying information needs, locating, organizing, and evaluating information.

Results: Finding showed that 25% of students have inadequate health literacy, 38.31% of them have moderate literacy and others have normal high-quality health literacy. Also, their information literacy level is higher than average. Also the results show significant and positive correlation between information literacy and health literacy. Level of health literacy in female students is higher than males and level of this variable in Ph. D. Students is more than Master students. Findings showed that post graduate students search the internet and communicate with friends in order to acquire health information.

Conclusion: Since, Impact of Information literacy on information skills from the access to evaluation and use of information. So, Enhancement of information literacy skills in students could improve their health literacy. Accordingly, libraries can increase level of students’ health literacy by learning information literacy skills. Some libraries’ programs are noticed in order to enhance level of students’ health literacy and information literacy

Background and Aim: This study attempted to investigate the information-seeking process of Shahid Chamran University postgraduate students, and how they use various information sources. The research also investigated he role of demographic characteristics in students' information-seeking process, as well as the problems and barriers they encounter in the process.

Method: The population of the study consisted of 5000 postgraduate students among whom 298 students were randomly selected through classified ratio sampling method. A researcher-made questionnaire was developed and after measuring its validity and reliability, distributed among the sample in person. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics including Friedman Rank Test and MANOVA were applied.

Results: The results show that students were statistically different in some variables. On average, students use the Internet 25.11 hours per week. They also prefer to use electronic, print, and human information sources, respectively, both to meet their information needs and to update their information. Students believe that information and communication technologies have reduced their visits to libraries. Students seek help from librarians primarily to locate books and other documents and to search for information. Students encounter a range of problems and barriers in their information-seeking process; the most important being the scattered information. Females face more problems than males. While students refer to specialists to meet their information needs at the first stage, they refer to their classmates and friends at the first stage to update their information.

Conclusion: Despite the effects of new technologies on students’ presence in academic libraries, all types of information resources are still consulted by them. Various purposes for information-seeking determine the information resource being consulted, and students consider their information needs as well as the context in which they seek information, when decide to choose the information resources

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the article reading behavior of faculty members working for state-run universities.

Method: This survey study used an online questionnaire for data collection. The research population consisted of all the faculty members in the fields of Electronic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physic, Chemistry and Mathematics, Management, Psychology and Social Science. Email addresses of respondents were obtained from their universities’ websites and the invitation emails were sent to them with the link of the online questionnaire.

Results: The results showed that respondents used international electronic journals the most and print copy of Persian journals the least. They tried to keep up-to-date with the latest developments of their field. The last article read by 80% of them belonged to 2014 or 1393. In terms of the number of articles read, there was no significant difference between different subjects. There was correlation between the number of article published and the number of articles read by faculty members. Majority of respondents used web searching to find out about the articles.

Conclusion: Faculty members were happy with the transition of journals to electronic format. They try to increase their visibility internationally. There are disciplinary differences in reading behavior

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors prompting Iranian chemists’ approach in joining scientific research networks (SSN). The study compares the demographic characteristics, academic status, academic degrees, and scientific productivity of the Iranian members and non-members of the most popular SSNs including Academia, Researcher ID and Research Gate.

Method: Applying a survey method, the communication concentrates on a purposeful sample composed of Iranian first authors of the papers published in prestigious chemistry journals indexed by SCI database. The members are selected from those who shared at least one paper in the SSNs. 

Results: According to the research results, the Iranian chemists are relatively low in their tendency to the SSNs. However, the members are annually growing in number. The members are, also, mostly found to be of high academic degrees, university ranks and scientific productivity level, compared to their non-member peers. 

Conclusion: The Iranian chemists enjoying higher education degrees, academic ranks and scientific productivity are more likely to join the SSNs. To maximize the use of the social web facilities, Science policy makers and planners are, therefore, required to apply effective strategies to encourage academicians to partake in the SSNs and also consider how to evaluate them based on their activities in the networks

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to find out the  current status of non-academic rankings of children's books and survey the experts  view on the revision  scheme in  the classification of such books.    

Method: The qualitative study was employed.  The research tool was a questionnaire based on the research objectives. Openended  interview data collection method was used based on the topics specified in the questionnaire.  Population consisted  of writers, critics, translators of children's books who were selected by snowball method.   

Results: The results showed  that experts in the arena of children's literature were in agreement in four facts:  Positive points, negative points, opportunities and threats.  They conclude that the use of age rating does not meet the needs of this age group. The use of psychological and educational approaches, regardless of the social aspects of children's development can not be the basis for determining the ranking of books.

Conclusion: The Findings suggest  that in spite of  the opinions expressed  -that are consistent with the belief that there is no age limit for children to use books -  however, considerations are taken to use of children’s book  under certain conditions.  In this regard, one can determine the age limit, based on  the cultural, social characteristics,  and children knowledge,  according to the views of the  two groups named in the ranking of books

Background and Aim: According to the social media development in libraries and necessity of social media literacy for librarians, the aim of this study was to elucidate the viewpoints and experiences of librarians about social media literacy. Also, strategies for increasing librarians' social media literacy was suggested.

Method: A qualitative study with University librarians in Sistan district was performed using interview method. Fourteen out of 40 university librarians were studied using convenience sampling method. Content analysis approach was used to analyze data.

Results: Themes such as "Network awareness, proper incorporation and   understanding of social media, observance of copyright law and personal privacy, critical and evaluative use, exchange of information, and targeted use," were derived from findings. Librarians accentuated the importance of social media literacy education.

Conclusion: Planning for formal and informal instruction of social media literacy as an essential part of information society should be pursued thoroughly. Social media literacy culture requires to be promoted. Attention to the production of practical works in social media literacy field is essential, especially among librarians

Background and Aim: According to the social media development in libraries and necessity of social media literacy for librarians, the aim of this study was to elucidate the viewpoints and experiences of librarians about social media literacy. Also, strategies for increasing librarians' social media literacy was suggested.

Method: A qualitative study with University librarians in Sistan district was performed using interview method. Fourteen out of 40 university librarians were studied using convenience sampling method. Content analysis approach was used to analyze data.

Results: Themes such as "Network awareness, proper incorporation and   understanding of social media, observance of copyright law and personal privacy, critical and evaluative use, exchange of information, and targeted use," were derived from findings. Librarians accentuated the importance of social media literacy education.

Conclusion: Planning for formal and informal instruction of social media literacy as an essential part of information society should be pursued thoroughly. Social media literacy culture requires to be promoted. Attention to the production of practical works in social media literacy field is essential, especially among librarians

Background and Aim: The aim of this article is to revise the methodological status of some of the most prominent studies and models in the field of Information Seeking Behavior in order to provide Iranian researchers with a brief comparative perception of the field.

Method: A literature review approach is applied to identify the research methods and historical origins of each study related to the realm of ISB.

Results: Research studies suggest that Iranian researchers - in their information seeking endeavors - have been unaware of the methodological tradition of the most prominent studies in this capacity, which are mainly based on the principle of methodological diversity and most of time have been imitating the methodological approach of other researchers in a stereotyped manner.

Conclusion: By deliberating the books written on the subject of study and research methodologies across a wide range of scientific disciplines, one can in a deductive manner, grasp a list of scientific methods in the form of independent researches to test the extent of their capabilities.  The main Key to current problems is methodological diversity

Background and Aim: Web 2.0 capabilities in research fields have provided numerous conveniences for scholars. This, has consent people to interact and share their publications with other scholars across the world. The purpose of the research is to study the presence of Shahid Beheshti University Scholars in ResearchGate.

 Method: Used approach in this paper is Scientometrics with Altmetrics method. For data gathering,  ResearchGate page Shahid Beheshti University was scrutinized.

Resutls: Findings indicated that disciplines of Chemistry, Laser, Plasma and Physics had the outermost presence in ResearchGate. In contrast, humanities had not any somber activities in Research Gate. Although, criteria for knowledge production and researchers interaction in  sciences are not conclusive, it seems that interaction of humanity professors with the Web and its potentials could result in formation of new ideas for future research.  It is concluded that in new era of education, web sites like: ACADEMIA, Research Gate, Mandalay would have an immense role in the development of research activities.

Conlcusion: It should be noted that in the new era of research and education, science, social networking websites such as: Academia, ResearchGate and Mandalay a key role in the training and development of their research. Establishing some workshops on using academic social networks can affect on knowledge of scholars, faculty member and students and direct their information seeking way for these people

Background and Aim: paying attention to users information needs will increase usability of information systems. Identifying user’s information needs in various phases of information system development will increase number of its users. One of the important information systems in research landscape is current research information system known as CRIS. CRISs provide integrated access to research information for researchers in organizational or national level. Two main elements of every CRIS are its data model and tools for managing research information. CERIF data model is a standard data model proposed for CRISs. Therefore, this research main goal is customizing this data model based on Iranian researchers information needs.

Method: this research was conducted using systematic review of existing research publications including:  papers, thesis and project reports on information needs of researchers.  Systematic review in this research includes six steps and 160 research documents, including 110 thesis, 46 journal papers, and 4 research project reports.

Results: related research documents are analyzed in terms of bibliometric and content aspects. Regarding bibliometric analyzing results, the findings confirmed the results of past studies completed on this subject. The results of content analyze includes different tasks and information resources that Iranian researchers are engaged with them. These results finally are presented in the form of entities and metadata elements existed in CERIF structure.

Conclusion: Generally according to results of this paper it can be said that Iranian researchers need mainly current information on formal research results including books, papers, journals etc.

Background and Aim: This research aimed to study emotions attribution style of users in information retrieval based on Weiner's theory.

Methods: The survey method was used in this study. Population consisted of graduate students in humanities at Imam Reza (AS) International University. Sample of 72 students was selected.  Data was collected by attribution style questionnaire (ASQ) and two researcher made questionnaires.

Results: Research findings showed that users attributed success and failure in information retrieval to internal causes. Also, consistent with Wiener theory, users attribute success to attempts and failure to inability and insufficient effort. On the other hand, it was found that there is significant relationship between users overall attribution style and information retrieval attribution style.

Conclusion: It can be determined that style of user attribution in information retrieval would strengthen correct attributions and destroys incorrect attributions in information retrieval and thereby provided better information retrieval.

Background and Aim: The intellectual structure of knowledge and its research front can be identified by co-word analysis. This research attempts to reveal the intellectual structure of knowledge in information behavior inquiries, via co-word, network analysis, and science visualization tools.

Methods: Bibliometric methodology and social network analysis are used. Population comprises 2146 records in the field of Information Behavior during 2006-2014, which had been retrieved from Web of Science.

Results: finding indicate that “Information Retrieval” is the most frequent keyword in the Information Behavior inquiries. Also, “Information Needs and Information Behavior” are the most frequent co-occurred keywords. Use of hierarchical cluster analysis by Ward method led to the creation of 11 topical clusters in Information Behavior, including among others: “User Studies,”  “Health Information Behavior,” and “Social Networks.”

Conclusions: The results indicated that the co-word analysis can be well uncover the intellectual structure of scientific disciplines. The results of the strategic diagram showed that “health information behavior”, “user studies”, “social networks”, and “relevance in information retrieval” are among well-matured and central clusters with pivotal role. Moreover, four clusters, including “information resources”, “Web search”, “information retrieval”, and “information management” are among emerging or declining clusters. Finally, although the “interface and information technology” cluster is in the central part, but it is underdeveloped. Due to the frequency of keywords on the one hand, and clusters obtained on the other hand, it seems to be a close relationship between information behavior and health studies. Therefore, it seem that many of information behavior studies have been conducted in health and medical communities

Background and Aim: Contrary to the fact that information must be accessible to all in every society, it is not obtainable for immigrants and refugees. The aim of this study is to find Information needs and the effective factors on information seeking of foreign immigrants in Iran and finding solution and presenting refining Policies.

Method: Mixed research method was applied. Participants selected from 12 provinces (384 immigrants), were all Afghan and Iraqi legal immigrants.  Instrument was a researcher made questionnaire which its reliability and validity was tested and approved.  Further, to identify most convenient strategies for immigrants information accessibility ten managers and Policy makers were interviewed to find refining policies. 

Result: Findings revealed that most important social, cultural, political and health information needs of immigrants needs extended from: Job (4.02), religion (3071), borders, illegal and legal places (3.81), and diseases (4.05).  Afghanistan and Iraq’s TV and radio (3.84) and educational institutions (3.85) had most significant role in  securing the information needs of immigrants.

Conclusion: Study shows that the major challenges of Afghans and Iraqi immigrant are accessibility to information to  solve Information needs.  Substantial portions of these challenges might be resolved by suitable Planning and proper legislation. Also, Information providers could help immigrant by supporting humanitarian outlook and overlooking national  origins of people.

Background and Aim: Generally, where learning and teaching concerns,   instructional technology’s presence had been certain. Instructional technology by having the standards and components of a profession needs ethics. Therefore, as a professional, an instructional technologist has to yield to ethical criteria, knowledge, standards, and appreciate ethical responsibilities in order to succeed. To recognize the ethical responsibilities in any profession, its stakeholders should be identified first.

Method: This research thoroughly analyzes and goes over the main points of definitions of instructional technology, and explains the educational technology as a profession. The existence of the term “ethics” in the definition of the field, and studying instructional technology as a profession is an entrance into a professional discipline and articulating its code of ethics. 

Result:  Findings reveals that in Instructional Design Technology discipline,  the change in the definition, modifys the functions and responsibilities of professionals in the field. Hence, the field encompasses five separate activities, yet these interaction closely with one another.  These activities are:  application, development, management, design, and evaluation.  Technologists may be involved in one or more of the aforementioned activities, but what is of most value is the ethics in all of them.

Conclusion:  It may be concluded that  Instructional Technology enjoys  professional ethics. So, it should be categorized as a profession withholding rights and ethical responsibility. Stakeholders in this field have dual responsibilities, due to its inherent nature of  face-to-face  and virtual learning activities.  

Background and Aim: Gaining appropriate information service primarily depends on the information needs and users' information seeking conducts. Students' mental health requires gratification in their information needs. Present study makes an attempt to investigate the information conduct of student clienteles at counseling center.

Method: Current study employs a quantitative descriptive method.  The population of the current study is composed of  all student clienteles at Kharazmi University counseling center. Available sampling method was used. Researcher's made questionnaire was applied for collecting the data and questionnaires were distributed amongst 145 student clienteles.

Results: Findings identified students: information needs, motivation for searching information, required information sources for searching students mental health, first source of reference to counseling centers, and  assessment and viewpoints on the quality of services at counseling centers.

Conclusion: the findings of this study confirms the vital role of investigating the information seeking behavior of students coming to counseling centers as a suitable source for identifying  students mental health which could lead to better planning and services in counseling centers.