Information behaviour of Argentine researchers in Humanities and Social Sciences

Abstract

The reported research intends to answer two questions: 1.Can we transfer conclusions made in studies of Humanities and Social Sciences users in Anglo Saxon countries to an Argentine university milieu, with different realities, different organizations, and less developed library systems and services? 2. Even though resources are different, is there a common background characterizing the Humanities and Social Sciences researchers as to activities related to access lo information, preferences, and information needs regardless the place where they work and material facilities avaílable? The goal was lo develop profiles, access styles and preferences in using information by Humanities and Social Sciences researchers at the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras (Universidad de Buenos Aires). Then prove similarities and differences with similar results in investigations undertaken mainly in Anglo Saxon countries. Methodology used combined questionnaires, interviews and citation analysis. The conclusions are: first, there are no substantial differences between information behaviour of researchers in both areas, nor are there differences in behavior as described in other countries. Therefore, in this study both initial hypotheses have been confirmed by results.