STUDENTERS INFORMATIONSHORISONTER
Användning av Google och sociala nätverk i informationsökningsprocessen
Social networkGoogleInformation seekingInformation horizonsStudentsDocumentationInformationLibrary scienceArchivisticsArkiv- och bibliotekskunskapDokumentationSocial Sciences
The theses discuss information seeking with a focus on Google and social networks. Students attending the librarian program in Lund have been examined by means of two methods; diaries and information horizons, where they had to solve a specific assignment. The information horizon as a method contributes to getting a structural perspective on the information search process instead of viewing information search as a procedure. Information horizons use social network analysis.The aim of the theses is to investigate the importance of the social network in information search, with a particular focus on Google as a search tool. Our hypothesis is that Google acts as a compensator to the social network when the students search for information and in the educational program.The research indicates that there is no direct correlation between usage of the social network and usage of Google. A plausible explanation is that the correlation is more complex and therefore hard to catch. The study, however, illustrates that the students do not use Google to a greater extent. Only 28 % of the students used Google at some point during the information search process to solve the assignment. A feasible explanation for low usage of Google is the students? values that the have gained from previous experience and also through the educational program. Another cause may be the character of the assignment. The result also indicates the value of social network as a source of information.The result can have a practical significance since a majority of students and scientists who seek information use Google. Then there is a need to educate the librarians of the future in using Google and also the new tools for using the social network, for example chat-programs and discussion forums.