Abstract
What do more than, two decades of studies of education information consumers tell us that might be helpful for developing an information system that would be more responsive to consumer needs and more compatible with their information search and use behavior? The essence of the answer is that information and communication behavior, in the aggregate, is extremely complex and multiply determined. However, research suggests that the information market can be segmented into submarkets, that there are several modal “information styles” for each submarket, and that perhaps the most promising strategies for improving systemwide effectiveness would, be to focus more attention on improving the performance of information brokers and intermediaries, and the performance of the print-prone gate keepers in the various types of organizations that use educational information.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, T.J. (1966).Managing the flow of scientific and technical information. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Cambridge, MA: MIT.
Allen, T. J. et al. (1968).The problem of internal consulting in an R&D laboratory. Cambridge, MA: Sloan School of Management, MIT.
Allen, T. J., & Gerstberger, P. G. (1967).Criteria for the selection of an information source (working paper 284–67). Cambridge, MA: Sloan School of Management, MIT.
Chorness, M. H., Rittenhouse, C. H., & Heald, R. C. (1968).Decision processes and information needs in education: A field survey. Berkeley, CA: Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 026 748).
Cox, P. L., Cahen K., & French, L. (1985).Clients of information service providers: A look at the use of ERIC and other information. Andover, MA: The NETWORK, Inc.
Dershimer, R. A. (Ed.). (1968).The educational research community: Its communication and social structure. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 057 275).
Ely, D. P. (1973). The myth of information needs.Educational Researcher, 12(4), 15–17.
Ferid, M. et al. (1984).A study of information seeking behavior of Ph.D. students in selected disciplines, final report. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 252 213).
Fry, B. M. (1972).Evaluation study of ERIC products and services: Summary volume. Bloomington, IN: Graduate Library School, Indiana University. (ERIC Document Reproduction, Service No. ED 060 922).
Fullan, M. (1981). School district and school personnel in knowledge utilization. In R. Lehming & M. Kane (Eds.),Improving schools: Using what we know.. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
Hall, C., & Wanger, J. (1972).ERIC file partition study: Final report. Santa Monica, CA: System Development Corporation.
Heinmiller, J. L. (1981).Cost and usage study of the educational resource information center (ERIC) system: A descriptive summary. Rockville, MD: King Research Inc. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 208 903).
Hood, P. D. (1973). How research and development of educational roles and institutional structures can facilitate communication.Journal of Research and Development in Education, 6(4), 96–113.
Hood, P. D., & McCutchan, N. N. (1972).Design of a personnel, and training information system for education R&D personnel: Report of the planning phase. San Francisoc, CA: Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 087 708).
Hood, P. D. et al. (1976).The educational information market study. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 135 411).
Howe, R. W. (1986).Survey of selected ERIC users—1986. Columbus, OH: Council of ERIC Directors; ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 277 565).
McDonald, D. P. et al. (1981).Cost usage study of the educational resources information center (ERIC) system: Final report. Rockville, MD: King Research, Inc. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED, 231 374).
MacVean, D. S. (1987).Use of ERIC materials by certified school personnel in three educational service regions in west central Illinois. Macomb, IL: Western Illinois University. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 290 500).
Magisos, J. H. (1971).Interpretation of target audience needs in the design of information dissemination systems for vocational-technical education. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University, The Center for Vocational and Technical Education.
McLaughlin, C. P., Rosenbloom, R. S., & Waleck, F. W. (1965).Technology transfer and the flow of technical information in a large industrial corporation. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University.
Mitchell, D. E. (1981).Shaping legislative decisions: Education policy and the social sciences. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
O'Gara, P. W. (1968).Physical location as a determinant of communication possibility among R&D engineers. (M.S. Thesis) Cambridge, MA: Sloan School of Management, MIT.
Paisley, W. J. (1968). Information needs and uses.Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, Volume B. Encyclopedia Britannica.
Paisley, W. J. (1972). The role of invisible colleges in scientific information transfer.Educational Researcher, April. (ERIC Document Reproduction Serive No. ED 057 275).
Park, B. (1986).Information seeking, behavior: An introductory examination. Memphis State University, Memphis, TN. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 288 526).
Parker, E. B., & Paisley, W. J. (1966).Patterns of adult information seeking. Stanford, CA: Institute for Communication Research., Stanford University.
Rees, A. M., & Schutz, D. B. (1967).A field experiment approach to the study of relevance assessment in relation to document searching. Cleveland, OH: Case Western Reserve, University, Center for Documentation and Communication Research.
Rubenstein, A. et al. (1979). Explorations on the information seeking style of researchers In C. E. Nelson & D. Pollock, (Eds.),Communication among scientists and engineers (pp. 209–232). Lexington, MA: Heath, Lexington Books.
Sieber, S. D. (1981). Knowledge utilization, in public education: Incentives and disincentives. In R. Lehming & M. Kane (Eds.),Improving schools: Using what we know. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
Summers, E. G., Matheson, J., & Conry, R. (1983). The effect of personal, professional, and psychological attributes, and information seeking behavior on the use of information sources by educators.Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 31(1), 75–85.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Paul D. Hood is the director of planning and evaluation at the Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development. Continuously since 1966, he has been responsible for the conduct of a broad range of R&D programs and projects in the field of education concerned with the communication and use of information; marketing of R&D-based products; dissemination of innovations; development and, evaluation of dissemination support systems; and evaluation of institutional and federal dissemination policies and programs.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hood, P.D. How can studies of information consumers be used to improve the educational communication system?. Knowledge in Society 3, 8–25 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02687224
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02687224