How Are We the Same or Different: Information Needs and Barriers of Domestic and International Students

The study sought to (1) investigate whether international students differ from domestic students in their information needs and barriers encountered, and (2) test the relative importance of students' domestic/international status against their gender and level of study. A survey was used to col...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of academic librarianship 2018-11, Vol.44 (6), p.712-723
Main Authors: Sin, Sei-Ching Joanna, Kim, Kyung-Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic libraries
Barriers
College students
Domestic students
Foreign Students
Gender
Information barriers
Information literacy
Information Needs
International students
Level of study
University students
User group comparison
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Summary:The study sought to (1) investigate whether international students differ from domestic students in their information needs and barriers encountered, and (2) test the relative importance of students' domestic/international status against their gender and level of study. A survey was used to collect data from international and domestic undergraduate and graduate students in a US public university. The study collected 1259 responses. Regression analysis was used for analyzing the data. International and domestic students were found to be similar in their top-ranked needs (e.g., career information) and barriers (e.g., irrelevant and non-credible information). Compared to their gender and level of study, students' domestic/international status resulted in fewer significant differences in their needs and barriers. However, for the areas where domestic/international status was significant, its effect size was often prominent. Differences between domestic and international students are more notable in the barriers than in the information needs. Based on the findings, six propositions were developed. The implications for research and practice are discussed.
ISSN:0099-1333
1879-1999
DOI:10.1016/j.acalib.2018.10.005