2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Academic libraries play a pivotal role in supporting engineering students' information needs. Understanding the intricacies of information-seeking behaviors among engineering students is crucial to enhance the effectiveness of engineering librarianship and, more broadly, engineering education. This research paper presents a qualitative analysis of library chat reference transcripts from engineering students, with a primary focus on evaluating the alignment of their questions with an established information-seeking model.
The study applies Kuhlthau's Information Search Process, a well-established framework of information seeking. Using process coding, a one-year dataset of chat reference interactions from a large research university is examined to uncover patterns and trends in the types of questions posed by engineering students and evaluate how the Information Search Process model aligns with the actual behaviors of engineering students.
This research illustrates how data—in this case chat reference transcripts—collected on a regular basis by academic libraries can be utilized to provide empirical evidence of how engineering students navigate the complex landscape of information seeking. The study's outcomes are of particular relevance to librarians, educators, and researchers in the field of engineering education, as they strive to enhance the information literacy skills of students and ensure that library reference services are well-aligned with their information-seeking behaviors. This research serves as a foundation for future investigations and improvements in library services, ultimately supporting the academic success and information literacy development of engineering students.