Author : Lustria, Mia Liza A.

Summary : This study was conducted to determine the general information-seeking behavior of scientists in the Los Baños Science Community (LBSC) and the factors that influenced such behavior. Specifically it sought to: a) find out the information-seeking behavior of LBSC scientists especially with regards S & T information; b) describe the scientists' preferences for specific sources of information; c) determine the factors affecting their use of new information technologies; and d) formulate recommendations to help improve the formation services in Los Ba¤os to best serve the unique information needs of Filipino scientists. A total of 146 researchers from the LBSC were interviewed from May to July 1995. The respondents were randomly selected from lists provided by their institutions through the proportional sampling method. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, while the significance of relationships between variables were tested using chi-square analysis at five percent level of significance. Results showed that majority of the respondents (82.2 percent) still relied on traditional methods of information seeking (i.e. going to the library or consulting informal sources like colleagues). In general, most respondents (82 percent) preferred to use formal sources of information to obtain information for their research. The most preferred formal sources were journals, research reports, conference proceedings, books, and theses. Some respondents (9.6 percent) also preferred to use informal sources especially for solving specific problems they encountered in their research, preferring to use personal contacts and exchanges during meetings, conferences, and seminars. Only a few respondents (4.1 percent) preferred to use information services over both formal and informal sources of information. Majority of the respondents (90.4 percent) were aware of the new information technology available in Los Baños.