Factors influencing the information seeking behaviour of Postgraduate students of University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to examine the factors influencing information seeking behaviour of postgraduate students at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur. The study followed an ex-post-facto and descriptive research design. Data were collected from postgraduate students using a structured questionnaire. Selected factors such as achievement motivation, scientific orientation, curiosity, level of understanding, intelligence, aptitude, general ethics, proximity of the university library and familiarity with the library were analysed using frequency, percentage and correlation. The findings revealed that postgraduate students possessed considerable levels of achievement motivation, scientific orientation, curiosity and a sound level of understanding.  Most respondents also reported high levels of intelligence, aptitude and general ethics. With respect to institutional factors, a large proportion of students perceived the university library as easily accessible and reported familiarity with library facilities. The findings indicate that psychological, cognitive and institutional accessibility factors collectively create a favourable environment for effective information seeking among postgraduate students. The study highlights the need to strengthen academic motivation, cognitive skills and library orientation programmes to further enhance information seeking behaviour.