Information-Seeking Behavior in The Digital Environment

Abstract

This study examines information-seeking behavior in terms of its concept, origin, development, and use by researchers within the digital environment. It identifies three interrelated motivations underlying individuals' information needs: social utility, practical utility, and instinctive utility. Information needs are also characterized by their flexibility, as they change according to an individual's cognitive state.
The study further aims to investigate the information-seeking behavior and information use of university students by employing the descriptive-analytical approach. It seeks to understand their information-seeking patterns, identify their information needs, examine how they interact with information, and determine the obstacles and challenges they encounter.
The study reached the following conclusions:
1. Graduate students should acquire the fundamental skills required for effective information searching.
2. Information services in the digital environment should be strengthened, and quality assurance standards should be implemented to ensure the quality of information resources and information services provided to graduate students at universities.