A Survey of Professional and Non-professional Information Needs of Faculty Members Based on the Cognitive Work Analysis Framework: A Case Study of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

This research aimed to survey the professional and non-professional information needs of the faculty members of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.
Out of 664 faculty members in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in the academic year of 2010-2011, 242 faculty members were selected by using stratified random sampling method. The data were collected by a researcher made questionnaire.
Findings: In general, the most important professional information needs of the faculty members are related to their main job. In case of non-professional information needs, while the most important information needs are related to social affairs, the least important needs center around political affairs. Faculty members get most of their needed information from internet. There was a significant difference between faculty member's information needs in different faculties. With regard to difficulties in providing the information needs, faculty members believe that the major problem is the unaccountability of the managers.