The information needs and information seeking behaviour of immigrant southern Sudanese youth in the city of London, Ontario: an exploratory study

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the information needs and information seeking behaviour of immigrant southern Sudanese Youth in the city of London, Ontario, in Canada. Design/methodology/approach Using focus group supported with semi‐structured interviews, personal observation and examination of relevant records, data were collected from 24 youths in the different communities within the city of London. A simple percentage was used to analyze the data. The study examined information needs, sources and information seeking behaviour as well as problems encountered by the youth in a bid to obtain information. Findings That the information needs of immigrant southern Sudanese youths in the city of London, Ontario are mainly academic in nature. Their chief sources of information included colleagues, friends, neighbors and relatives – respondents tend to seek information that is easily accessible, preferably from interpersonal sources, unless there is a particular reason for avoiding interpersonal sources. Although most of the respondents knew what information is and its importance, results also showed that lack of awareness about where to obtain information on education and apprenticeship training is the most common problem of the southern Sudanese youths. Ways to facilitate information seeking and use are indicated. Research limitations/implications Limitations are: the use of participants selected through purposive sampling (convenience samples cannot be representative of the population as a whole); by using individual interviews as well as focus groups the size of the sample was restricted. Practical implications Given that this research indicates that the means and sources of information seeking found in the southern Sudanese youth in the city of London are no longer adequate, practical suggestions that would facilitate information seeking and use among immigrant southern Sudanese youth in the city of London are given. Originality/value This pilot study on the information needs and information seeking behaviour of immigrant southern Sudanese youths in general is the first of its kind ‐ no research has preceded it. Moreover, there seems to be no interest on the part of information professionals to undertake empirical research concerning the information needs and information seeking behaviour of immigrants in Canada, although in the United States of America there is an ongoing research interest.

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