Journal of Information and Knowledge (Formerly SRELS Journal of Information Management)

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Awareness and Use of Government Information in Digital Form by Social Science Researchers


Affiliations
1 Institute for Social and Economic Change, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru - 560072, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Library and Information Science, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru University, Bengaluru - 560070, Karnataka, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Governments generate various types of information in different formats. To facilitate transparency and accountability, governments across countries make information available to citizens. Social science researchers use this information for studying different social and economic issues. The present study analyses the level of awareness among social science researchers regarding the perceived information quality, accessibility and relevance to their research. The digital documents are preferred more than the print and other formats in which government information is available. The purpose for which they use government information available in digital form has been studied along with the frequency of use of different kinds of government information. The study observes that social science researchers rank most government information as high quality and relevant to their research besides using frequently. Although there is no gender difference observed with respect to the use of government information, there is a significant difference between researchers in the domain of economics and other social science researchers so far as access to statistical information is concerned.

Keywords

Digital Information, Government Information, Social Science Research.
User
About The Authors

B. B. Chand
Institute for Social and Economic Change, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru - 560072, Karnataka
India

Ramesha
Department of Library and Information Science, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru University, Bengaluru - 560070, Karnataka
India


Notifications

  • Asher, C., Yi, H. & Knapp, S. (2002). Effective instruction needed to improve students’ use of government documents. Journal of Government Information, 29(5), 293-301. Accessed on 12.07.2017. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S13520237(03)00051-0.

  • Burroughs, J. M. (2009). What users want: Assessing government information preferences to drive information services. Government Information Quarterly, 26(1), 203–18. Accessed on 12.07.2017. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2008.06.003.

  • Hernon, P. & Williams, S. Lou. (1976). University faculty and federal documents: Use patterns. Government Publications Review, 3, 93–108. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-061X(76)90049-6.

  • Hernon, P. (1979). Infrequent use and non-use of government publications by social scientists. Government Publications Review, 6(4), 359–71. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-061X(79)90028-5.

  • Koga, T. (2005). Government information and roles of libraries and archives : Recent policy issues in Japan. Progress in Informatics, (1), 47–58. Accessed on 13.07.2017. Retrieved from: www.nii.ac.jp/pi/n1/1_47.pdf.

  • Line, M. B. (August 1971). The information uses and needs of social scientists: An overview of INFROSS. In: ASLIB Proceedings, MCB UP Ltd.; 23(8), 412-34. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1108/eb050298.

  • Mooko, N. P. & Aina, L. O. (1998). The use of government publications : the case of social scientists at the University of Botswana. Journal of Government Information, 25(4), 359–65. Accessed on 12.07.2017. Retrieved from: https:// doi.org/10.1016/S1352-0237(98)00015-X.

  • Nilsen, K. (1998). Social Science Research in Canada and Government Information Policy : The Statistics Canada Example. Library and Information Science Research, 20(3), 211–34. Accessed on 13.07.2017. Retrieved from: https:// doi.org/10.1016/S0740-8188(98)90041-X.

  • Nilsen, K. (1999). Supermarket : Where Do Social Scientists Shop ? IASSIST Quarterly, (Fall), 4–11.

  • Powell, D., King, Sheila & Healy, Leigh Watson (2011). FDLP user’s speak : The value and performance of libraries participating in the Report prepared for United States Government Printing Office: Presented by, July.

  • Psyck, E. (2013). Leaving the Library to Google the Government: How Academic Patrons Find Government Information. ACRL 2013 April 10-13, 2013 Indianapolis, Indiana. Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/ files/content/conferences/confsandpreconfs/2013/papers/ Psyck_Leaving.pdf.

  • Pujar, S. M. & Sangam, S. L. (2007). Information use by economists: A study. Annals of Library and Information Studies, 54(4), 190-94, Accessed on 06.08.2017. Retrieved from: http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/7496/1/ ALIS%2054%284%29%20190-194.pdf.


Abstract Views: 426

PDF Views: 21




  • Awareness and Use of Government Information in Digital Form by Social Science Researchers

Abstract Views: 426  |  PDF Views: 21

Authors

B. B. Chand
Institute for Social and Economic Change, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru - 560072, Karnataka, India
Ramesha
Department of Library and Information Science, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru University, Bengaluru - 560070, Karnataka, India

Abstract


Governments generate various types of information in different formats. To facilitate transparency and accountability, governments across countries make information available to citizens. Social science researchers use this information for studying different social and economic issues. The present study analyses the level of awareness among social science researchers regarding the perceived information quality, accessibility and relevance to their research. The digital documents are preferred more than the print and other formats in which government information is available. The purpose for which they use government information available in digital form has been studied along with the frequency of use of different kinds of government information. The study observes that social science researchers rank most government information as high quality and relevant to their research besides using frequently. Although there is no gender difference observed with respect to the use of government information, there is a significant difference between researchers in the domain of economics and other social science researchers so far as access to statistical information is concerned.

Keywords


Digital Information, Government Information, Social Science Research.

References