MIT 144F: Week3
Key Concepts from the Leckie (1996) Article

Some Characteristics of Expert and Novice Researchers Compared:

Expert researchers:

1. have information seeking strategies
1. strategies differ according to discipline
1. humanities: solo workers; heavy library use
2. social sciences: team workers; field work to gather data, etc.; library for background information
3. sciences: personal contacts; personal collections; low library usage
2. have strong information seeking skills
1. know tools and sources
3. have strong, motivated, and focussed questions
4. have strong evaluative skills
1. usually as a result of extensive training
5. have strong expectations regarding information quality
1. know the general nature of "correct / useful" information
6. know "layout" of the discipline
1. know how the field sub-divides
2. know who the key players (current and historical) are
7. part of "invisible college"
1. can rely on colleagues for answers
2. make a point of keeping up with the work of colleagues (through email, journals, conferences, social gatherings, etc.)

Novice researchers:

1. have "coping strategies" rather than information seeking strategies
1. strategies rather homogeneous
2. have reliance on printed library materials
2. have weak information seeking skills
1. do not know tools and sources
3. have weak, unmotivated, and "fuzzy" questions
4. have weak evaluative skills
1. lack training/experience in evaluation information sources
5. have weak expectations regarding information quality
1. are not experienced enough to know whether answers are "correct / useful"
6. do not have a complete understanding of discipline
1. cannot identify from which sub-field(s) questions might be answered
2. do not know who the key players (current and historical) are
7. are not part of the "invisible college"
1. cannot keep abreast of "bleeding edge" advances