Information seeking a part of adult education. A study of adult students information seeking in different types of studies

The purpose of this essay is to investigate adult students information seeking. We draw a distinction between traditional timetabled studies, flexitime studies and external studies. For many adult students flexitime studies and external studies involve a new kind of studying. The new types of studies entail that adult students must apply themselves to more information seeking. In our study we investigate how the students proceed when seeking information. We also discuss their need for tutoring concerning information seeking. It is also of interest to find out how the students use the library in their studies. We have carried out a survey among a number of students and we have also done qualitative interviews with students in groups of three or four from each type of study. We have interviewed the students teacher in social studies and history and also the librarian who is on the staff of the adult education at this school. Our study is linked to theories about information seeking and learning. The results show that nearly all students perform information seeking but also that their accustomedness and knowledge vary to a large extent. The library is an asset which many students use in their studying, especially the traditional students. We are of the opinion that flexitime students and external students are groups of students who need to get more attention from the library. We also make the conclusion that tutoring in information seeking is something that most adult students would gain a lot from in their studies.Uppsatsnivå: