A study of research on children's information behaviour in a school context

Abstract

This study examined research bearing on the relationship between information seeking and use and learning in a school context. Studies examined included research on how school assignments, reading ability, access tools and children's understanding of information seeking and use influence their information behaviour and learning outcomes. Library catalogues and databases covering several disciplines were searched and the results were correlated with the findings of a bibliometric study in order to locate relevant research. The results indicate that little research has focused specifically on the relationship between information seeking and use and learning outcomes, although all research taken up in the study elucidates aspects that touch upon the relationship. Taken together, research shows that a strong relationship exists between schoolchildren's understanding of information seeking and use, the nature of school assignments, the quality of access tools and children's experience and knowledge of them. It seems likely that this relationship in turn influences learning outcomes and that further exploration would deepen our understanding.