Users' information behaviour - a gender perspective

• Main Authors: Jela Steinerová, Jaroslav Susol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Borås 2007-01-01
• Series: Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
• Subjects: Male/female differences in information seeking behaviour
• Online Access: http://informationr.net/ir/12-3/paper320.html

<br><b>Introduction.</b> The paper is based on the study of library users in Slovakia as part of a larger research project on the use of information. <br><b>Method.</b> A large-scale questionnaire survey was conducted in 2002 in sixteen academic and research libraries with 793 subjects, especially students and educators. <br><b>Analysis.</b> The data were analysed with the use of statistical package SPSS. Gender differences are analysed with regard to ways of information seeking, use of electronic resources and publishing. <br><b>Results.</b> Results indicate that men prefer individual information seeking and women apply collaborative information use. By sorting user types it was found out that women tended to manifest a pragmatic way of information use (the S type). Men confirmed analytic information processing (the A type). Women declared less experience in the use of electronic resources and publishing. Differences in orientation, collaboration and feelings have been noted. <br><b>Conclusion.</b> Gender as a variable can be productive for better understanding of cognitive and social background of human information processing. Findings can inform design of services and systems and information literacy policies.