Information needs and seeking behavior of social science scholars at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman: A mixed-method approach

This study investigates information needs and information-seeking behaviors of social science scholars at Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman, as an example of a developing country in the Middle East. Its ultimate objective was to produce a model that is applicable to social science scholars in developing countries in general and Oman in particular. The study addresses the questions of (a) how social science scholars at this university locate and use relevant information, particularly electronic resources and other emerging technologies for their specific research and teaching needs; and (b) whether these patterns vary in relation to gender, age, academic rank, academic department or college, or preferred search language. Formal and informal sources of information and electronic resources utilized by social science scholars, as well as barriers to information seeking, are discussed.