The information-seeking behavior of researchers and subject analysis

Abstract

Study of the information-seeking behavior – ISB - and of the means used by faculty in the areas of applied social sciences and humanities of the great Belo Horizonte when looking for information needed while conducting research. With this objective in mind, data was collected aiming to identify the variables that interfere with their ISB, thus trying to identify elements that can assist in the improvement of the subject analysis process. The results show that these researchers are very independent in the process of information-seeking, developing their own methodologies of information-seeking. They make very little use of formal systems such as libraries. Two reasons can be identified for this little use: the researchers buy their own books and have little knowledge of the potential of the libraries and the services that they have to offer. They make a good use of these systems, however, through intermediaries. The information professionals in charge of the task of subject analysis should take in consideration these features in order to adjust its work to be of help to these users.