Correlation Research Question: For Postgraduate Students

Topic:

The Information Seeking Behaviour on Internet and Library Resources of Postgraduate Students in the University of Hong Kong.

1 . Why it is a correlation research?

The objective of the study is to try exploring the relationship between [Information Seeking behaviour] and [Internet and Library Resources] among [Postgraduate Students in the University of Hong Kong].

2 . How will the correlated data variables be collected?

Participants:
100 postgraduate students who are currently studying in the HKU postgraduate courses from various faculties will be randomly invited for the research. Both genders will be equally invited for the research.

Instrument:
A data collection sheet will be distributed to the students collecting their searching behaviour on Internet and Library resources during the semester. An interview will be conducted after they have finished their semester.

Procedure:
Data collection sheet will be used to collect their searching behaviour, skills, pattern, tools and frequency during their studies in the semester. Finally, an interview will be used to collect their experience, comments, difficulties, problems, suggestions and review on their information seeking behaviour at the end of the semester.

Period:
The research will be last for one semester.

Design:
Data collection sheet and questions for the interview will be jointly set by a group of professors and librarians. The design of the questions will collect the demographic information, experience and background information of the participant. The interview will try to explore the difference on the searching behaviour of the participant during their studies.

3 . How this study can contribute to the evaluation of the effectiveness of internet resources and the library resources assist postgraduate students on their learning and studying?

In this information explosion age, postgraduate students are keen to explore and search for information on their study. Both internet resources and library resources can help the participants on their study. However, the effectiveness of using these resources may affect their learning and studying. The objective of this study is trying to investigate their information seeking behaviour on using the internet and library resources on their study.

In fact, the degree and level of searching pattern and frequency on the internet and library resources will definitely affect their quality of work and study. There may be some other factors affecting their searching behaviour. This study not only try to identify their information seeking behaviour, but also try to investigate whether there is any change of their searching behvaiour after using library resources. Improvement will be suggested for developing a better information seeking behaviour and environment to postgraduate students and library.