Abstract:
Purpose: In recent decades, Information seeking behavior has been the subject of many studies and resulted different offered models; e. g., traditional, systematical, user-oriented, task-oriented and linear models. The main goal of this paper was to study Foster non-linear model as a new approach in contrast to previous offered models. Design/Methodology/Approach: This Survey research was conducted by a questionnaire that developed by the researcher based on existing criteria at the Foster’ s thesis (2003). Total of 110 questionnaires were distributed and 105 of them were returned. Findings: The results showed different levels of correspondence in interdisciplinary and single-disciplinary researcher’ s information-seeking behavior with Foster’ s non-linear model in general and also with the contexts and triple core processes, too. The hypothesis test showed a significant difference in the the level of information seeking behavior matching between the two groups of studied researchers with the model. Conclusion: There is an essential need to review this model, especially in determining the weight and importance of each core processes and contexts in modeling the information seeking process.
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