Human Information Interaction

Background and Aim: Information literacy is a key element in the development of an independent and effective learning in higher education in the 21st century. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between information literacy and learning motivation in undergraduate students. In addition, the mean score of information literacy was measured based on educational and demographic variables.
Methods: This applied research carried out with a quantitative approach and survey method. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire. The study population was undergraduate students at Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University and 379 samples were selected using stratified random sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics analyses (Pearson correlation, independent T and ANOVA) were performed using SPSS software.
Results: Students' information literacy based on five standards was 2.48. Based on the findings of the Pearson correlation coefficient with 99 percent confident there was positive and significant relationship between information literacy and learning motivation. In addition there was positive and significant relationship between information literacy and Grade Point Average (GPA)  of students with 99 percent confident. Based on independent T-test was not observed a significant difference in male and female students' information literacy. ANOVA test showed a significant difference with 99 percent confident between information literacy and entrance year of students. Based on ANOVA test there was no significant differences on students' information literacy based on field of study.
Conclusion: Students' information literacy unsatisfactory. Information literacy had a positive relationship with learning motivation. Also there was a positive relationship between information literacy and academic performance (GPA). Information literacy of senior students was more than freshmen. Information literacy of students in four areas of study (Humanities, Engineering, Agriculture and Science) was almost similar.

Background and Aim: With changes in the paradigm of information seeking field and the replacement of system-based approach by user-based one, it seems necessary to design systems to achieve Information seeking goals. This requires mutual interactions of users and systems and establishing relationships between information seeking and information retrieval. A number of models were created after the introduction of new technologies into information seeking field which present information search trends as dynamic activities and describe how to meet the users’ demands. The research attempted to investigate how the undergraduates of the Water Sciences Engineering School of Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz searched the information on the Internet and then compare their “information seeking” behavior with Kuhlthau “information search process”.
Methods: This was an applied research using descriptive survey method. The statistical population was comprised of all undergraduates of the Water Sciences Engineering School of Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz (N=204) out of whom 102 subjects (51 freshmen and 51 sophomores) were selected via random sampling who received questionnaires.
Results: The data analysis revealed that from the stages of Kuhlthau model, freshmen and seniors tended to ignore “beginning” and “Selection stages”. Subjects would prioritize four stages of “exploration”, “formulation”, “collection” and “presentation” while “exploration” and “collection” stages were the best stages for the intervention of librarians in the search process. Also, data analysis showed that the students used “information bases”, search engines and topic indices equally while they employed search tools such as “Title” and “N operator” more than other search tools.
Conclusion: The results revealed that the pattern used by students was comprised of 4 stages which were in contrast to kuhlthau model in both terms of the number and order of stages. In the end, a new internet search pattern used by students was recognized and presented through the results obtained from the comparisons of both groups of subjects.