Exploring correlations of information seeking behavior and self-efficacy in mobile Internet context

Abstract

With the increase in usage of mobile devices, more users start to acquire information from them. Facing the vast digital resources, as the primary users, not many of the younger ones are information literate. It seems to be challenging for mobile Internet novice users to seek information effectually (Peter F. Drucker, 2014). Besides the limitations of seeking ability, user interface, information environment, information organization and other factors, psychological factor may also significantly affect user seeking behavior and perception of satisfaction. Bandura (1996) put forward that self-efficacy (the faith or belief in required ability for people to achieve behavioral target in specific domains) will influence the seeking behavior of information users. But relevant research mostly focuses on desktop web-based seeking behavior.

This study will combine the relevant literatures on information seeking behavior theories, technology acceptance model and self-efficacy theory and propose assumptions and determine the survey contents. A quantitative study will first explore the relevant issues and determinants with students in University of Hong Kong and then further analyze their correlation with the seeking behavior using quantitative methods. Through exploring the characteristics of self-efficacy and information seeking under the mobile Internet, this study investigates the correlation of them. Based on this, further measures can be proposed to improve user’s seeking efficiency and help solve the contradictions between the universality and the utilization of information resources in mobile Internet context.

From the study results we can know that Google is a popular search engine adopted by university students in assignment accomplishing for its convenient accessibility and quick respond. The self-efficacy level of university students in Hong Kong reaches the average standard, the same to the situation of information seeking behavior. Nevertheless, more attention should be paid to the result that students with bachelor degree perform better than students with master degree, especially in the perspectives of referring to information. The difference between students from various disciplines is significant, which is consistent with the findings of previous research. “Soft” disciplines seem to educate students become more information literate than that in “hard” disciplines. Last but not least, the positive correlation between self-efficacy and information seeking behavior accord with the original assumptions. With the establishment and development of self-efficacy, students perform better in information seeking task. Considering the special context proposed in the thesis, the result seems to be coincident with the conclusion draw under Internet circumstance. All these findings contribute to the education about information literacy and suggestions are given accordingly.