초록

Abstract

The study examines two aspects that relate to undergraduates’ selection and use of information sources for their academic assignments: (1) sources perceived useful vs. sources frequently used, and (2) source characteristics considered important as selection criteria vs. selection criteria used as reflected in characteristics of frequently used sources. A survey of 251 undergraduate students attempted to address the gaps between what students think they should do and what they actually do with regard to source selection. Characteristics of frequently used sources were analyzed to find out the criteria used for source selection. Friends/family were among the frequently used sources although they were not perceived as useful. Unlike other sources suffering gaps between the perceived usefulness and the use behavior, Web sources were the ones not only perceived most useful but also used most frequently. When the important selection criteria were compared with the characteristic of sources used often, students did not seem to actually use the selection criteria they thought important. While students considered some characteristics related to information quality (e.g., accuracy, comprehensiveness) as important criteria for source selection, the actual criteria they applied for choosing information sources could be described as ‘convenient’ or ‘accessible’ (e.g., efficient/time saving, easy to use, familiar, accessible). Based on the findings, suggestions were made to help bridge such gaps through information literacy programs and information systems design.

초록

야후 앤서(Yahoo! Answers)와 네이버 지식인과 같은 지식 검색 커뮤니티가 활성화되면서 전문가가 아닌 일반인이 제공하는 정보에 대한 신뢰성이 끊임없이 제기되어 왔지만 일반인 답변자들의 신뢰성 있는 정보 제공 노력에 대한 연구는 미흡한 실정이다. 이에 본 연구는 야후 앤서에서 활동하는 44명의 일반인 답변자들과의 이메일, 채팅, 전화 인터뷰를 통해 그들이 이용하는 정보원, 신뢰성 있는 정보 제공을 위한 전략, 그리고 자칭 전문성(self-claimed expertise)에 대한 인식을 알아보았다. 본 연구의 결과는, 일반인을 효과적인 정보제공자로 교육시키는 이용자 교육 측면에서 활용될 수 있다.

Abstract

The popularity of question answering communities such as Yahoo! Answers and Naver Knowledge-iN and increasing doubts about the competence of lay information providers prompted this study to explore answerers' strategies to provide a credible answer in a question answering community. Forty-four active answerers in Yahoo! Answers were included in this study, and interviews were conducted through email, chat, and over the telephone. This study identified a set of information sources the answerers used, an array of important strategies to provide a credible answer, and their perception of self-claimed expertise. Implications of results were discussed in the context of user instruction.

초록

본 연구는 외국인 난민의 한국 체류와 관련된 정보상황을 이해하고, 요구되는 정보와 정보원을 파악하여, 정보행태 관점에서 외국인 난민과 한국사회에 필요한 변화, 국제사회 속에서 한국의 역할, 도서관계의 정보 전문가적 대응 방안을 제시하였다. Dervin의 의미형성이론과 Chatman의 정보빈곤 이론을 바탕으로 연구설계가 진행되었다. 한국에 합법적으로 체류 중인 외국인 난민을 연구 참여자로 선정하였고, 인식, 상황, 행태를 조사하기 위한 반구조화된 심층면담을 진행하였다. 연구결과를 바탕으로 외국인 난민, 한국 공공 및 민간기관, 도서관계에 적용 가능한 정보서비스 방안을 제시하였다. 이는 관련된 실증적 연구를 보완할 수 있고, 실제 정보 문제 해결을 위한 정보서비스의 가치를 높일 것으로 기대된다.

Abstract

The purposes of this study include i) to understand the circumstances of exposure to information during foreign refugees’ stay in South Korea, ii) to investigate their information needs and the use of information sources, and iii) to propose the change needed in the Korean society, the role of South Korea in the global community, and the service direction of libraries and information professionals. To this end, legally recognized refugees who have stayed in South Korea were recruited for semi-structured in-depth interviews and observations on their perception, situation, and active behavior. The discussions were transcribed for coding. The codes were analyzed by content analysis technics based on relevant previous studies and factors of Dervin’s Sense-making theory and Chatman’s Information Poverty theory. Based on these analyses, this study proposed strategies for foreign refugees and individuals and public organizations, including libraries and NGOs, from an information service perspective. It is expected that the proposed strategies will supplement related empirical quantitative research and add value to information services for solving information problems.