INFORMATION NEEDS AND INFORMATION GATHERING BEHAVIOUR OF PURE SCIENTISTS IN THE UNIVERSITIES OF SRI LANKA

Abstract

This study investigates the information needs and information gathering behaviour of pure scientists in the universities of Sri Lanka with a view to identify such needs of pure scientists with respect of their main subject areas, their peripheral research areas of interests and their teaching programmes. This survey was based on the responses of 89 pure scientists out of a total of 220 in six universities and covers all areas of disciplines of biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics and physics. The main research tool employed was a self administered questionnaire and simple random sampling method was utilised treating each university as a cluster. The results were analyzed in terms of percentage frequencies, rank orders and Kendall's coefficient of concordance, W. The study revealed that except for one, all the pure scientists are involved in research in addition to teaching. A further 17.98% of the sample are involved in additional administrative work. Most scientists who are trained in a narrow subject area of specialization often continue to work in the same or a closely related area of research while there is also a tendency to drastically change their main research areas over a period of time. It was found that the major purpose for which pure scientists seek information is to support research work in progress and to keep up with current developments.