%0 Journal Article
%T Information Behavior Research in Taiwan: Theses Analysis
%A Shang-Ju Lin Chang
%A Chen-Yun Hsu
%J Journal of Library and Information Science Research
%D 2008
%I Library Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
%X This paper reports on empirical research conducted from December 2005 to April 2006. The goal of this paper is to understand relevant research on information behavior in Taiwan and to make suggestions to researchers. This research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, the number of theses conducted in this area was analyzed statistically to shed light on trends in information behavior research. In the second stage, content analysis was performed on eight theses, which were chosen according to a developed framework. This analysis shows that the number of instances of information behavior related research has been increasing steadily, while research topics and research subjects were quite diversified. A growing number of disciplines has begun to take an interest in information behavior, though most research was still conducted in the area of Library and Information Science. This study also found that the selected theses' authors emphasized motivation, topic/content, type of information resource and channel via which information was garnered in looking at information needs research. Finally, we suggest that research design and analysis be more rigorous, and that researchers be more creative in adopting research methodology in future studies.
%K Information behaviors
%K Information needs
%K Research trends
%K Quantitative research
%K Content analysis
%K Research methods
%U http://lac3.glis.ntnu.edu.tw/vj-attachment/2009/10/attach32.pdf