Presented at LILAC 2008

1. Search and Use of Information
among Computer Science and
Information Technology
Undergraduates
Mohd Sharif Mohd Saad
Faculty of Information Management
University Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam
MALAYSIA
mohd.sharif@gmail.com

2. Part of a study to investigate
Information Seeking Behavior of
14 Final year undergraduate at
the faculty of Computer Science
and Information Technology,
University of Malaya-while
conducting their final year
project proposal.
Introduction

3. bjectives of thebjectives of the
studystudy
the decision when choosing research
topics by final year students
the sources and channels of information
they use and prefer
the utility of libraries and librarians
the use of the Internet
the search strategies used
their thoughts on ethical issues when
searching and using information.

4. Background : Why CS & IT FinalBackground : Why CS & IT Final
Year UndergraduatesYear Undergraduates
 Expected to be computer and Internet
literate
 Have taken Information Skills Course –
offered by the library
 Past 2 years being doing assignments,
projects

5. MethodologyMethodology
14 students volunteers (3 males, 11
females)
 Complete their Information Search
Diaries
 Response to email questionnaire
 Face to face interview

6. Choosing the project titleChoosing the project title
8 – Depend on titles provided by
lecturers
8 – Discuss with their lecturer
3 – Propose own topic
6 – Discuss with friends/seniors

7. Respondents R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 Total
Information
Sources
Internet
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
14
Past years Final
Yr Projects X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
14
Lecturers X X X X X X X X X X X X 12
Friends X X X X X X X X X X X X 12
Books X X X X X X X X X X X 11
Interview/Survey
/Questionnaires
X X X X X X X X
8
Journal Article
X X X X X
5
OPAC X X X X 4
Buy Books X X X X 4
Visits X X X X 4
Information Sources Used

8. Respondents R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 Total
Electronic Full
Text
X X X
3
Brochures
X X
2
CD Rom
X
1
Newspaper &
Television X
1
Seminar Papers
X
1
Attended
Seminar
X
1
Reference
Librarian
X
1
Online
Index/Abstract
-
Government
Reports
-
nformation Sources Used…cont

9. Why?Why?
Lecturer/supervisors
Friends/seniors

10. Search PatternSearch Pattern

11. Search Pattern of the Internet

12. Information
Search Subject
System
Familiarity
Method of
Access
Know the Report Do not Know the Report
Recommended Recommended Browsing
By Friend by Lecturers
Outcome Needs Met Partially Met Not Met
Further Action
Problems
1. Cannot find the required Information.
2. Limited Opening Hours
Continue Seeking
& Evaluating
Information Search and Use of Past Years
Reports

13. Information
Search Subject System
Familiarity
Method of
Access
Know the Book Do not Know the Book
Recommended Recommended OPAC Book Store
By Friend by Lecturers
Outcome Needs Met Partially Met Not Met
Further Action
Problems 1. Book not in the Library
2. Books borrowed by others
3. Too few titles in the Library
4. Books are expensive
Continue Seeking
&
Evaluating
Information Search and Use of Books

14. Information Search Subject System
Methodology
Survey Interview Visit
Electronic Manual Electronic Face to Sites Exhibition
Face
Outcome Needs Met Partially Met Not Met
Further Action
Problems
1. Poor response
2. Difficulty in Scheduling appointments
3. Some information are Confidential
Continue Seeking
& Evaluating
Search Patterns for Survey/Interview/Visit

15. Evaluation Method R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 Tota
l
Compare with other sources X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14
Lecturers/Supervisor X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13
Friends X X X X X X X X X X X 11
Integrity/authority of
authors, editors, publishers
X X X X X X X X X X 10
Check the date X X X X X X 6
Compare with lecture notes X X X X 4
Compare with well known
projects
X X X 3
Information contains
references
X X 2
Refer to authentic sources
like reference text, reference
given
X 1
Try the coding
(programming)
X 1
Own Analysis X 1
EVALUATION OF INFORMATION

16. 4 – did not find the lib. services useful to them4 – did not find the lib. services useful to them
3 – the lib. fulfill their needs3 – the lib. fulfill their needs
1 – approach the librarian for assistance1 – approach the librarian for assistance
Are aware of inter-lib. loan but never use themAre aware of inter-lib. loan but never use them
A good place to study and readA good place to study and read
Librarian looks busyLibrarian looks busy
Librarian cannot help them because their subjectsLibrarian cannot help them because their subjects
are very technicalare very technical
Libraries and Librarians

17.  Able to explain the term “plagiarism”
 Cited the references used
 All 14 information are “Aware” and
“Agreed” the importance of IP, but
admitted to using pirate software
Ethical use of Information and Intellectual Property

18. Why?Why?
 “Original software are too expensive, if I fully depend on the
original one, a student like me can never afford them. I have to
use it or I will never learn Computer Science” (R1)
 “We cannot afford original software, after all it is not being use
professionally” (R4)
 “Cheap and it is normal to use in education” (R4)
 “I think it dos not matter when compared to if use by a
company” (R13)
 “As long as it is not for commercial use “(R10)
 “Students are not developing actual system” (R12).

19. PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS