Search and Use of Information among Computer Science and Information Technology Undergraduates Mohd Sharif Mohd Saad Faculty of Information Management University Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam MALAYSIA

Part of a study to investigate Information Seeking Behavior of 14 Final year undergraduate at the faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya-while conducting their final year project proposal. Introduction

bjectives of the study bjectives of the study the decision when choosing research topics by final year students the sources and channels of information they use and prefer the utility of libraries and librarians the use of the Internet the search strategies used their thoughts on ethical issues when searching and using information.

Background : Why CS & IT Final Year Undergraduates Expected to be computer and Internet literate Have taken Information Skills Course – offered by the library Past 2 years being doing assignments, projects

Methodology 14 students volunteers (3 males, 11 females) Complete their Information Search Diaries Response to questionnaire Face to face interview

Choosing the project title 8 – Depend on titles provided by lecturers 8 – Discuss with their lecturer 3 – Propose own topic 6 – Discuss with friends/seniors

RespondentsR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13R14Total Information Sources Internet XXXXXXXXXXXXXX 14 Past years Final Yr Projects XXXXXXXXXXXXXX 14 Lecturers XXXXXXXXXXXX 12 Friends XXXXXXXXXXXX 12 Books XXXXXXXXXXX 11 Interview/Survey /Questionnaires XXXXXXXX 8 Journal Article XXXXX 5 OPAC XXXX 4 Buy Books XXXX 4 Visits XXXX 4 Information Sources Used

RespondentsR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13R14Total Electronic Full TextXXX 3 Brochures XX 2 CD Rom X 1 Newspaper & Television X 1 Seminar Papers X 1 Attended Seminar X 1 Reference Librarian X 1 Online Index/Abstract - Government Reports - Information Sources Used…cont

Why? Why? Lecturer/supervisors Friends/seniors

Search Pattern

Search Pattern of the Internet

Information Search Subject System Familiarity Method of Access Know the Report Do not Know the Report Recommended Recommended Browsing By Friend by Lecturers OutcomeNeeds Met Partially Met Not Met Further Action Problems 1. Cannot find the required Information. 2. Limited Opening Hours Continue Seeking & Evaluating Information Search and Use of Past Years Reports

Information Search Subject System Familiarity Method of Access Know the Book Do not Know the Book Recommended Recommended OPAC Book Store By Friend by Lecturers OutcomeNeeds Met Partially Met Not Met Further Action Problems 1. Book not in the Library 2. Books borrowed by others 3. Too few titles in the Library 4. Books are expensive Continue Seeking & Evaluating Information Search and Use of Books

Information Search Subject System Methodology Survey Interview Visit Electronic Manual Electronic Face to Sites Exhibition Face Outcome Needs Met Partially Met Not Met Further Action Problems 1. Poor response 2. Difficulty in Scheduling appointments 3. Some information are Confidential Continue Seeking & Evaluating Search Patterns for Survey/Interview/Visit

Evaluation MethodR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13R14Total Compare with other sourcesXXXXXXXXXXXXXX14 Lecturers/SupervisorXXXXXXXXXXXXX13 FriendsXXXXXXXXXXX11 Integrity/authority of authors, editors, publishers XXXXXXXXXX10 Check the dateXXXXXX6 Compare with lecture notesXXXX4 Compare with well known projects XXX3 Information contains references XX2 Refer to authentic sources like reference text, reference given X1 Try the coding (programming) X1 Own AnalysisX1 EVALUATION OF INFORMATION

4 – did not find the lib. services useful to them 3 – the lib. fulfill their needs 1 – approach the librarian for assistance Are aware of inter-lib. loan but never use them A good place to study and read Librarian looks busy Librarian cannot help them because their subjects are very technical Libraries and Librarians

Able to explain the term “plagiarism” Cited the references used All 14 information are “Aware” and “Agreed” the importance of IP, but admitted to using pirate software Ethical use of Information and Intellectual Property

Why? “Original software are too expensive, if I fully depend on the original one, a student like me can never afford them. I have to use it or I will never learn Computer Science” (R1) “We cannot afford original software, after all it is not being use professionally” (R4) “Cheap and it is normal to use in education” (R4) “I think it dos not matter when compared to if use by a company” (R13) “As long as it is not for commercial use “(R10) “Students are not developing actual system” (R12).

PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS