City Research Online

Abstract

This thesis investigates the information behavior of fashion students in higher education in the UK by testing the usefulness of Carol Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process (ISP) model (2003) when studying this demographic. It interrogates whether these students go through the six stages of the search process-and associated emotions- as Kuhlthau identified and identifies the resources fashion students use and want, and where they are obtaining these resources during the course of their research. Situated between the fields of library and information science (LIS) and fashion studies, this is the first study researching the information behavior of fashion students from an LIS viewpoint. Employing a mixed methods approach, this thesis foregrounds the perspectives of fashion students in British higher education and information professionals and librarians supporting them in UK-based universities. This work argues that the ISP model is useful in understanding the information behavior of fashion students, and that fashion students in the UK are experiencing some of the six stages and emotions that Kuhlthau identified. However, it also concludes that there are some key differences between these students’ information behavior and Kuhlthau’s model. This work demonstrates that students are deviating from the model, and not going through all of the six stages; seek mediators at different stages than Kuhlthau identified, and are obtaining a range of resources (predominately digital) from multiple sources, and not exclusively their university library. These conclusions offer important insights to supporting information professionals in supporting the unique needs of this demographic of students and aids in the development of adequate and useful library collections.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > NK Decorative arts Applied arts Decoration and ornament Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources
Departments:	School of Communication & Creativity > Department of Media, Culture & Creative Industries School of Communication & Creativity > School of Communication & Creativity Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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