Information-Seeking Behavior of Educators of Agricultural-Jihad Educational Center in Fars Province in Education-Research Activities

Adequate knowledge about the information needs and seeking behavior of users is vital for developing library collections, services and facilities to meet their information needs effectively. So, the purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate information-seeking behavior of educators in education-research activities. The research instrument was structural questionnaire with close-ended questions, which its validity and reliability was confirmed. The target population of this study consisted of educators (including teachers, instructors and faculty members) of agricultural-jihad educational center of Fars province (N=180) out of which, a number of 101 people were selected as statistical sample in a stratified sampling method by using Israel’s table (n=101). The result of research indicated that improving skills of teaching was the main educator's motivation of searching information. In addition, Persian books and internet were the main information sources using in teaching and research activities by educators, respectively. On the other hand, these results showed that the more than four fifth of respondents was using Google explorer engine to utilize web-based Persian journals. Furthermore reliable sources were the main criteria for using information sources. Low speed in being connected to internet, being scattered of libraries, and lack of accessing to full text of papers in journals were three top barriers in searching information stated by educators. Inferential results show there were statistical differences between the educator's use amount of information sources on the research activities regarding their education level and employment status.