Nontraditional undergraduates at home, work, and school: an examination of information-seeking behaviors and the impact of information literacy instruction

Abstract

This study examined nontraditional undergraduates' home, work, and school information seeking and the perceived impact of an information literacy course on their information-seeking behaviors. The participants in the study were students in the College at Work (CAW) program, a joint venture of the State University of New York at Albany and the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Participants needed a variety of information for home, work, and school. The Internet (and NYSED intranet) was used as the primary source of information for work and school and often for home as well. People (e.g., friends, family members, coworkers, and professionals) were the next most used sources of information. The information literacy course taught participants the skills needed to find information effectively and efficiently on the Internet and in an academic library. Students gained confidence as searchers and as students from the course. Participants indicated that the knowledge and skills gained in the course were transferred to work and home information seeking.