A Quantitative Survey on the Influence of Students' Epistemic Beliefs on Their General Information Seeking Behavior

This exploratory survey aimed to investigate the possible influence of students' epistemic beliefs (EBs) on their general information seeking behavior (GISB). The study sample consisted of 290 undergraduate students majoring in different disciplines in some centers and units of Payame Noor University (distance education) in northern Iran in the academic year of 2012-2013. They completed a 28-itemed Epistemic Beliefs Inventory and a researcher-made 25-itemed General Information Seeking Behavior Questionnaire. By using SPSS 19 software, collected data was analyzed. The findings showed that students' EBs positively affected their GISB. Students with sophisticated EBs had elaborate GISB in comparison with those having naïve EBs. It can be concluded that the consideration of epistemic beliefs is relevant for research on information seeking behavior. This necessitates us to revise our approaches to reference services, information consulting and information literacy. This study and further related studies can lead to better performance in information environments from the user's side and guide academic librarians to integrate epistemic beliefs in library instruction.