A Study of Young Adults` Information Behavior and Media Use: Focusing on the Children of Families with Immigration Background

Abstract

This study investigated the information behavior and media use of Korean young adults with immigration background, focusing on the influence of their social and cultural context. 11 young adults between 13 and 18 with immigration background participated in the study. The participants provided data via daily logs about information needs, written surveys about media use, and two times of in-depth interviews. The data gathered from these diverse methods were used in analyzing the participants’ daily problem situations and attempts to satisfy information needs using media. The information needs of young adults with immigration background in their everyday lives included study, leisure, appearance, self-development, living, and career searching study and leisure were the most needed information subjects. The young adults who participated in this study were actively using media to solve their information needs. For them, media was an emotional support, a tool to express their own identities, a solution that gives all the answers, and a good companion to spend time with. The proposed strategies about young adults’ media use in this study could be used in planning library services for children of families with immigration background. 키워드: 청소년, 미디어 사용, 정보 행태, 정보 요구, 다문화가정 자녀 Young adults, Youth, Media Use, Information Behavior, Information Needs, Children of Families with Immigration Background, Multicultural Family