Fast surfers, Broad scanners & Deep divers Jannica Heinström Informationsförvaltning, Åbo Akademi Heinström, J. (2002). Fast surfers, Broad scanners and Deep divers – personality and information-seeking behaviour. Doctoral dissertation. Åbo: Åbo Akademi University Press.

Personality and Information Behaviour theoretical framework material and method results Fast surfers Broad scanners Deep divers conclusions

Information behaviour in context information literacy skills task discipline stage of the information seeking process

Personality “Personality is that pattern of characteristic thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that distinguishes one person from another and that persists over time and situation” (Phares, 1991, p. 4)

Five central dimensions emotional stability – instability extraversion – introversion openness – conservativeness agreeableness – competitiveness conscientiousness – easy-goingness

Personality and use of information (Kernan & Mojena, 1973) responsible and insecure: exagerrated information seeking confident and dominant: less effort in information seeking

Creative style related to information behaviour (Palmer, 1991) Innovators – wide and enthusiastic information seeking Adaptors – controlled and systematic information seeking

Approach to studying deep – intrinsically motivated, interested surface – extrinsically motivated, syllabus-bound strategic – achievement-oriented, organised

The influence of study approach on information behaviour (Limberg, 1998; Ford, Miller & Moss, 2001; Kaski, 1999) deep – wide information seeking, critical analysis surface – retrieval problems strategic – flexible information seeking

Material and Method 305 university students NEO Five-Factor Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1992) ASSIST (Tait, Entwistle, & McCune, 1998) questionnaire about information behaviour statistical analyses

Fast surfers minimum time and effort used on information seeking access prioritised over content quality problems with relevance judgement and critical evaluation of information

Why fast surfing? surface approach to studying negative emotionality conservativeness low conscientiousness

Broad scanners broad and flexible information seeking wide range of sources

Why broad scanning? extraversion openness to experience competitiveness

Deep divers effort in information seeking high quality information

Why deep diving? openness to experience intellectual curiosity highly motivated

Conclusions personality and study approach do influence information behaviour broad perspective on information seeking important