COMPORTAMENTO INFORMACIONAL AO UTILIZAR FONTES DE PESQUISAS: UM ESTUDO DE CASO COM ESTUDANTES DE INICIAÇÃO CIENTÍFICA

Abstract

The Scientific Initiation Program (IC) is essential for educational institutions. The research works developed by the students aim to benefit institutions and society, contributing to regional progress with their innovative discoveries. But for research to be successful, it is necessary for students to equip themselves with reliable and quality information. In this sense, this research aims to analyze whether IC students at IF Goiano – Campus Rio Verde use the research sources to search for information, if they have the skills to use such materials and if there is any difference regarding sex and the course students take. This research is a case study based on the quantitative approach. The sample data consisted of 209 IC students who answered a questionnaire. The data regarding the library, the technological sources of information and the use of social networks for research were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-Square test. Thus, the main findings highlighted that students have already used or would use the services and products offered by the library. We observed a significant difference in the results referring to the databases, in relation to gender and the courses taken. It was also revealed that students have already been encouraged and oriented about the use of research sources and that students occasionally experience some difficulty. Amongst the greatest difficulties pointed out by the students, there was the lack of training to carry out the research. In view of this study, we realized that students have difficulties in using the research sources. Therefore, the intention is for there to be cooperation between Higher Education Institutes, their guardians, and their libraries to work with actions coordinating training and instructions with the aim of preparing students to use this material. We also created an educational product, which is a digital guide entitled: “Practical guide: sources of information and digital technological information and communication tools for academic research with practical information and tips”, which will be made available to students and the entire academic community in order to assist students in preparing to develop skills when using research materials.