Cultural Factors Affecting Information-Seeking Behaviour

Abstract

This chapter investigates the cultural effects on information seeking behaviour in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) universities. The region's unique conservative and collectivist culture played a great role in students' information seeking behaviour. The study was based on Hofstede's cultural concepts of collectivism versus individualism and power distance. It includes also Hall's concept of time cultural dimension. These concepts are measured by information needs, query formulation, task execution, and interacting with systems. It was found that culture has significant effects on students' information needs, query formulation, task execution, and interacting with systems. Undergraduates are more affected by culture, while graduates and postgraduates showed little impact. Cultural impacts on information seeking activities are valuable in adopting new technologies in the libraries, which should culturally be acceptable for better acceptance, utilisation, and implementation. It is culture that hinders people from using some browsers, interfaces, and even databases.