Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint)
“The following article (preprint) was accepted for publication on February 1, 2013. It is currently scheduled for publication in the July 2014 issue of College and Research Libraries.
Title
Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint)
Authors
Kyung-Sun Kim University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sei-Ching Joanna Sin Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
EunYoung Yoo-Lee North Carolina State University
Source
College and Research Libraries
Abstract
Social media have become increasingly popular among different user groups. Although used for social purposes, some social media platforms (e.g., Wikipedia) have been emerging as important information sources. Focusing on undergraduate students, a survey was conducted to investigate the following: (1) which social media platforms are used as information sources, (2) what are the main reasons for using these social media platforms for information seeking, and (3) what kinds of actions are taken to evaluate the quality of the information gained from such sources. The study provides a snapshot of current trends in terms of the use of social media as information sources. It also sheds lights on the actions that the undergraduate students took to evaluate information from social media, including social networking and video sharing sites that have rarely been studied previously. Based on the findings, suggestions are made for information literacy programs and roles of librarians and educators.
Direct to Full Text Article (30 pages; PDF)”
Stephen
13 Responses
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Continuing the Discussion
RT @sabram: Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint): http://t.co/HYiicSQ1ZK
RT @sabram: Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint): http://t.co/bnYo4JYd5x
RT @sabram: Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint): http://t.co/bnYo4JYd5x
RT @sabram: Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint): http://t.co/bnYo4JYd5x
RT @sabram: Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint): http://t.co/bnYo4JYd5x
I do think one needs to differentiate between “active” and “passive” use of “social media.” Using Wikipedia is very different from using forums. Also, I think defining Wikipedia as a “social media” is probably no longer useful … it has editors and revision processes like a good print encyclopedia, albeit at much higher speed.
RT @sabram: Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint): http://t.co/bnYo4JYd5x
RT @sabram: Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint): http://t.co/bnYo4JYd5x
RT @sabram: Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint): http://t.co/uattUQkktK
Social Media as Information Sources, http://t.co/TSHrqZzuTJ
New Research: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (C&RL Preprint) http://t.co/dC53hwakA1
RT @AmandaClay: New Research: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (C&RL Preprint) http://t.co/C4NaqLurae
Research Article: Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media as Information Sources (Preprint) via Stephen’s Lighthouse http://t.co/gL725rEaSK