Information behaviors of the graduate students of Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study information behaviors of the graduate students of Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University and 2) identify problems and obstacles concerning  information behaviours of Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University graduate students. The research samples included 242 graduate students studying in the academic year 2022. A designed questionnaire was adopted as a research instrument. The statistical data analyses included percentage, mean and standard deviation. The results showed that most of the graduate students sought information to conduct a thesis/ dissertation by primarily asking classmates, using the information sources from the library of Rajabhat Maha Sarakham university, receiving personnel information sources from course instructors and advisors. Other information sources included the Internet from web search engines (search engine) and sources of information for thesis and thesis database (ThaiLIS) on education and information technology in education. Multiple words were used as  information retrieval strategies. As for problems-solving techniques when facing  undesirable information, various sources were used instead. The overall problem in using information of the students was at a moderate level.  In addition, most of the students were unable to access online databases from the sources outside the university due to remote access to information sources, inconvenience to use the services and poor internet connection.