Developing the information-seeking behavior scale for undergraduates

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to develop a standardized and reliable measurement tool for assessing information-seeking behavior of undergraduate students.Design/methodology/approach: Based on information literacy and information-seeking behavior theories, expert advice and students' interview, items of undergraduates' informationseeking behavior indicators were selected. With the analysis of homogeneity reliability, item analysis and factor analysis, this study constructs an assessment system to evaluate reliability and validity of the scale.Findings: The information-seeking behavior scale for undergraduates has divided undergraduates' information-seeking behavior into seven dimensions, which include 46 items. The reliability analysis of Cronbach's α was 0.910, and the coefficient of split-half reliability was0.817. The results of factor analysis showed that Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin(KMO) was 0.864,which indicates 55.536% of the total variation could be explained by the above seven dimensions.Research limitations: Due to a small sample size and limited sample distribution, further research need be conducted in an expanded sample size in order to explore the application scope of this evaluation system; in addition, the stability of the scale also need be confirmed.Practical implications: The paper sets up an information-seeking behavior evaluation system for undergraduates and explores the characteristics of their information-seeking behavior.This study provides guidance for the development of future information literacy education and the improvement of the information literacy level of undergraduates.Originality/value: An information-seeking behavior scale for undergraduates has been developed, which comprehensively covers information need, information source, information evaluation, information retrieval, information management, information utilization and information morality. The scale is proved to have good reliability, validity, popularity anddiscrimination that it is qualified to be an assessment tool of information-seeking behavior for Chinese undergraduates.

The Essence and Structure of Information Competency of an Interpreter in the System of Continuing Education

The paper highlights the problem of training of interpreters in the system of continuing education in Russia. The theoretical analysis of the essence and structure of the information competency of an interpreter in continuing education as subjects is proposed. The research techniques were document analysis, interviews, participant observation, work process analysis, and focus groups. This paper presents a brief overview of the information competency of an interpreter. The importance of the information competency in the structure of professional competency of an interpreter is acknowledged by the majority of modern experts. But there still exists the problem of determining the set of skills which present the information competency of an interpreter. This paper introduces the author＇s view on the problem of defining the essence and structure of the information competency of an interpreter.

Malaysian Teacher Trainees＇ Competencies of Accessing, Evaluating, and Applying Information Ethically in Research Process

The case study attempts to discover with certainty the competency of accessing, evaluating and applying information in research process acquired by undergraduate trainees of Malaysian Teacher Education Institute in the northern region of Peninsula Malaysia. Considered as highly important skills that trainee teachers have to acquire a comprehensive understanding of information literacy to pursue a research. Yet, it is a pivotal fact indicated by recent researchers that most future teachers often enter teaching without the necessary information literacy skills and knowledge in research process. The scope of study is based on full-time final year undergraduate trainee teachers for the Educational Degree Programme doing their school based action research in the states of Kedah, Perlis, and Penang. The study analyzes problems and issues faced by these trainee teachers tied up to information literacy competency in doing research process. The study investigates trainees＇ competencies of accessing, evaluating, and applying information ethically in their research process. The findings hope to give insights to stake holders on the ways to move forward in terms of needs, process and outcomes in accordance with the Malaysian National Information Literacy Agenda.

Information Competency and Pressure-induced Legislation

Pressure-induced legislation occasioned by media discourse is actually the result of an information deficit on the part of legislators. If legislators＇ information competency fails to meet the knowledge challenges of the modem legal system and its activities, they will be powerless to resist the infiltration of media discourse. The result is that legislative activities are inextricably intertwined with the media; once a particular social issue is catapulted on to the media agenda, legislators have no choice but to fall into line, creating the phenomenon of pressure-induced legislation. The essential characteristic of law is its inherent constancy and stability, whereas pressure-induced legislation often loses the calmness, objectivity, prudence and comprehensiveness proper to law. Such legislative decision-making runs counter to the inherently rational mechanism of legislation and produces unfair and ineffective redistributive results. Pressure-induced legislation highlights the importance of information in public policy choices and institution design. It would be desirable for the whole legal system aimed at evaluating legislative performance to be introduced so as to provide legislators with a sufficient incentive to remodel their information competency and ensure the scientific nature and rationality of legislation.

Developing Pre-service Teachers’ICT Teaching Competency:Supporting Elements,Major Issues,and Possible Paths-Analysis Based on the Survey of 20 Normal Universities and Colleges

Based on the increasingly prominent power of information technology in the innovative development of education,people pay more attention to the information and communications technology(ICT)teaching competency of pre-service teachers.In order to explore the supporting elements,key issues,and possible paths of current normal universities and colleges in cultivating pre-service teachers’ICT teaching competency,this study collects the survey data of graduates from 20 normal universities and colleges at provincial&ministerial,local,and junior levels.Based on the total quality management theory,technology acceptance model,and pre-service teachers’ICT teaching competency framework,it carries out the survey and analysis from three aspects:supporting elements,supporting effects,and ability development.The study finds that the support of personnel,facilities,curriculum,mechanism,and environment provided by normal universities and colleges does not play a full role in improving the ICT teaching competency of pre-service teachers.There are still great differences among different levels of universities and colleges.Among them,the influence of personnel support and curriculum support should be greatly strengthened,and facility support is even more inhibited.Based on these findings,it puts forward some strategies that are conducive to better cultivating the ICT teaching competency of pre-service teachers in the pre-service education stage,to make them adapt to the new standards and requirements for teachers in the new era.