Factors influencing students' information-seeking behavior in a theological school in Indonesia: Basis for a library services enhancement plan

Abstract

This descriptive correlational study was conducted to describe students' information seeking behavior in a theological school in Indonesia as a basis for the enhancement of library services. This study employed a one-shot online survey to gather the data. Total enumeration was used to identify respondents; hence, there were eighty-seven (87) respondents, but only seventy-one (71) of them were able to return the questionnaire. The research instrument was researcher-made and adapted from the 2016 study of Ma. Reden N. Montaño, entitled Barriers to and Facilitators of Information-Seeking Behavior of Medical Students of West Visayas State University and was also based on ACRL standards. Data gathered were analyzed using frequency, means, percentage, t-test, f- test, Kruskal-Wallis Test, significance value, standard deviation, and gamma value. Results suggested that the respondents choose a more convenient way of searching for information where they prefer the online mode. There are no significant differences in the respondents’ information-seeking behavior according to their sex, course and year- level. Significant difference in information-seeing behavior of the respondents was found only if they were grouped according to their age. Environmental and psychological factors give significant influence to the information-seeking behavior of the respondents. In conclusion, it is recommended that the library in a theological school in Indonesia should continue to enhance its resources and services so that its clienteles can have a better reach of its provisions. The library should subscribe to qualified resources (print and electronic formats and databases), strengthen networks and linkages to other libraries (local and international), and conduct training on information and internet literacy.