Studenters upplevelse av information overload i informationshanteringsprocessen - Implikationer för högskolebiblioteket

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Information overload occurs when the amount of information exceeds the individual s capacity to efficiently process and use the information available. In this situation information instead of being an asset becomes a load. This interview study deals with college students experiences of information overload when working on their thesis. Focus lies on use of Internet based information resources. The main result was that the students experienced information overload in specific situations and steps of the process. Choosing a subject with a manageable focus for the thesis and exploring different information sources to increase familiarity with the topic was a critical phase. Information overload also frequently occurred when using search engines. The students reacted to information overload mainly with frustration. Strategies to escape information overload included choosing a narrow subject for the thesis, avoiding search engines and using reference lists to find the most important sources. The students opinion was that the major responsibility for student information literacy lies with faculty. The academic library was seen as an extra resource. Student interest in information literacy education offered by the academic library was poor. The general opinion was that librarians are experts in information seeking, while teachers hold the slightly more important subject knowledge. Our main conclusion is that coop...