Information needs and Information seeking behaviour of Namibian pastors

Masterarbeit , 2013 , 196 Seiten

BWL - Informationswissenschaften, Informationsmanagement

This study investigated the information needs and seeking behaviour of pastors in Namibia. The purpose of the study was to establish the information required by pastors to carry out their work, how they seek information and the problems they encounter in doing so. A mixed-method approach research was used to meet the objectives of the study. A stratified quota sample of 200 pastors was used based on Walpole’s formula for proportions. One hundred and thirty-eight (69%) participants responded to the questionnaire, while 16 pastors from different denominations in Windhoek, purposively selected as key informants, were interviewed. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) basic level descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data from the questionnaires, while content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data from the interviews.
The findings of this research are that pastors need information for counselling, community development, administration, evangelism, preaching, teaching, public relations and leading a service. When pastors do not find information from formal sources (Bible concordances, Bible commentaries, Bible translations, etc.) in their personal libraries, they turn to informal sources of information (Holy Spirit and other experienced pastors). The respondents revealed that their information seeking behaviour is affected by the fact that existing information is either in languages they do not understand or is not relevant to their contexts. They also pointed out that they lack skills to search the Internet, and the majority have no money to buy computers or subscribe to the Internet.
Many organisations are involved in the provision of pastoral information services but they lack coordination to serve the pastors effectively. A framework for setting up pastoral information services has been proposed. The researcher recommends that the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN), the Pastors’ Book Set (PBS) programme, theological colleges, and local churches work together to systematically provide pastors with the necessary resources. They should periodically assess the information needs and information seeking behaviour of pastors. They need to jointly run workshops to make pastors aware of available sources of information, to encourage the sharing of information among pastors, and to equip pastors with computer and Internet skills. There is also need to repackage information into local languages and in formats that pa

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 Orientation of the study
• 1.3 Statement of the problem
• 1.4 Objectives of the study
• 1.5 Significance of the study
• 1.6 Limitation of the study
• 1.7 Literature review
• 1.8 Theoretical framework
• 1.9 Definition of terms and concepts
• 1.10 Research design and methodology
• 1.10.1 Research design
• 1.10.2 Population
• 1.10.3 Sample
• 1.10.4 Data collection methods
• 1.10.5 Validity and reliability
• 1.10.6 Procedure
• 1.10.7 Data analysis
• 1.11 Research ethics
• 1.12 Structure of the thesis
• 1.13 Summary
• CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Information needs and seeking behaviour of pastors
• 2.2.1 Information
• 2.2.2 Information need
• 2.2.3 Information seeking
• 2.2.4 Information behaviour
• 2.3 Information sources used and how they are used
• 2.4 Factors affecting pastors' information seeking behaviour
• 2.5 Perceptions of pastors on their preparedness to meet their job demands
• 2.6 Pastoral information service
• 2.7 Information behaviour models
• 2.7.1 Ellis' (1989) behavioural model of information seeking strategies
• 2.7.2 Kuhlthau's (1991) model of the stages of information-seeking
• 2.7.3 Wilson's (1996) model of information seeking behaviour
• 2.7.4 Dervin's (2000) sense-making theory
• 2.8 Reasons for using Wilson's model and Dervin's theory
• 2.9 Summary
• CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Research design
• 3.3 Survey research
• 3.3.1 Strengths of survey research
• 3.3.2 Weaknesses of survey research
• 3.4 Interviews
• 3.5 Research population
• 3.5.1 Sampling procedures
• 3.5.2 Stratified sampling
• 3.5.3 Purposive sampling
• 3.6 Reliability and validity
• 3.7 Data collection instruments
• 3.7.1 Questionnaire as a data collection tool
• 3.7.2 Interview guide as a way of collecting data
• 3.8 The pilot study
• 3.9 Data collection process
• 3.9.1 Administering the questionnaires
• 3.9.2 Existing church documents and interviews with key informants
• 3.10 Data analysis
• 3.10.1 Analysis of quantitative data
• 3.10.2 Analysis of qualitative data
• 3.11 Ethical considerations
• 3.12 Evaluation of the research methodology
• 3.13 Summary

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study examines the information needs and seeking behavior of pastors in Namibia. It aims to understand the specific types of information pastors require for their work, their preferred methods of information seeking, and the challenges they face in accessing relevant information. The study employs a mixed-method approach, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. Key themes explored in the research include:

• The information needs of pastors in various aspects of their work, including counseling, community development, and evangelism
• The diverse sources of information pastors utilize, ranging from formal sources like Bible commentaries to informal sources like fellow pastors and the Holy Spirit
• The factors affecting pastors' information seeking behavior, such as language barriers, lack of access to technology, and limited financial resources
• The existing information services for pastors and the need for improved coordination and accessibility
• The potential for strengthening pastoral information services through collaborative efforts among various organizations

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the study, outlining the research problem, objectives, significance, and limitations. The chapter also details the methodology employed, including the research design, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques. Chapter 2 presents a comprehensive literature review on information needs and information seeking behavior, focusing specifically on pastors. It examines various information sources, factors influencing pastors' information seeking habits, and existing information behavior models. Chapter 3 delves into the research methodology in detail, explaining the survey research methods, interview techniques, sampling procedures, data collection instruments, and ethical considerations.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The study focuses on information needs, information seeking behavior, pastors, Namibia, pastoral information services, church, religion, information sources, information access, technology, language barriers, community development, and counseling.

• Hochschule: University of Namibia (Department of Library and Information Science)
• Veranstaltung: Master of Information Science
• Autor: David Matsveru (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2013
• Seiten: 196
• Katalognummer: V233272
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656495390
• ISBN (Buch): 9783656495208
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: information, namibian