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.
