An investigation of the information needs and seeking patterns of people in the Caprivi Region, Namibia

Abstract

Early research indicates that it is important to study user needs and trends of information seeking in populations. Furthermore, it is important to understand the needs of populations or clientele (Sprague, 1994). Only recently has attention begun to shift to investigations of the information seeking behaviour of ordinary citizens in their work or daily life or of persons who have not had training in research or information seeking (Chen & Hernon, 1982). This study is a descriptive one that used self-administered questionnaires and interviews to investigate the information needs and seeking patterns of people in the Caprivi. The subjects of this study were 100 respondents, derived from the Caprivi region and were obtained by opportunistic / convenient sampling in five selected areas. The researcher did the data collection. The research used qualitative and quantitative methods of study. A questionnaire was designed' with questions that were a mixture of open-ended and closed-ended questions. The findings of this study have some significant limitations. It was carried out at one time of the year when it is likely that people's information needs and behaviour may have differed at other times of the year. The aims of the study were to provide a framework on which future endeavours such as study, policy, investment and the like may be established.