Information behaviour of the net generation: An examination on university students

Information systems and services have to be developed considering the information behaviours (information needs, information seeking, use and sharing behaviour) of users. The information behaviour of the net generation is different due to they born in the digital environment and have varied characteristic from the previous generation. For this reason, it is very important to recognize the net generation's characteristics and to act accordingly that. The purpose of this descriptive research is to determine the information behaviours of the members of the net generation in Hacettepe University and their expectations from the information services. In this context, the questionnaire based on the literature was also included in the questions based on the Technology Acceptance Models. As a result, data were collected from 381 students aged 18-30 by questionnaire. The analysis of quantitative and qualitative data obtained was based on IBM Statistics 23 and MS Excel software. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and content analysis technique. The findings are thought to be useful in planning and presenting information services for the net generation. A significant portion of the network generation (68,5%) uses the Internet first for all kinds of information needs. Internet identifies with information retrieval for the generation. 32,8% of that is close to Internet addiction. The library, makes a great deal of evocation of information/resource to the network generation. Approximately one-third of those do not pay attention to copyrights. The library is seen as a costly but reliable source of information rather than the Internet. Basic expectations from the library are information, resources, easy access and physical space possibilities. Quick and easy access to library resources with perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, trust, information fast and easy access, computer self-efficacy, facilitating conditions, computer anxiety, perceived enjoyment, entertainment, image, price value, addiction, habit, also revealed that networking was effective on information behaviours. In the context of these findings, "Information behaviours of the net generation (information needs, information seeking behaviour, information use and sharing characteristics) are shaped by the influence of the Internet". The hypotheses of the thesis have been confirmed that "The net generation is influenced by the ease of use, benefit, cost, and confidence in using the Internet as a basic and priority access tool" and "The net generation's anticipation of information services is determined by the influence of the Internet". At the end of the study, various recommendations based on findings were presented. In addition, a proposal of information behaviour's model was established.