The Communications Behavior of Academic Economists in Research Phases

Abstract

A questionnaire survey of academic economists indicates that their information-gathering behavior varies as they progress through research projects. Certain behavioral patterns are associated with each of three research stages. Behavior is affected directly or indirectly by the type of task performed in the stage, the information sought to complete the task, the ability of the information system to transmit the information, the researcher's growth in knowledge about his research topic, and his expanding ability to perceive the relevance of information to the topic or question being studied. Communication behavior variables considered to determine the patterns are the method and specific channel through which information is received; purposiveness in seeking information; the occupation, institutional affiliation, and geographic location of the information source; the researcher's prior contact with the source; and the recommender of the information source. These findings are related to the need for providing specialized library services to academic researchers.

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