Information Behavior in Searching for Sources of Information, in the Light of the Digital Transformation: An Analytical Study of the Opinions of a Sample of Postgraduate Students at Saudi Universities

Abstract

Recognizing the importance of what helps meet the needs of graduate students and researchers, and aspire to participate in supporting digital transformation decisions included in the future vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia "2030".This study aimed to investigate the current state of information behavior in searching for information sources, in the light of digital transformation, based on the opinions of postgraduate students at Saudi Universities. The population of the study consisted of all students at King Faisal University, King Abdulaziz University, and King Khalid University. The sample included (100) students. The study adopted the analytical descriptive approach. Findings of the study include the following: The degree of implementing the criteria of information behavior in searching for information sources, from the perspectives of postgraduate students, were rated (high) from the perspectives of sample members; and no statistically significant differences at the significance level of (0.05) were found among the opinions of sample members on the questionnaire's axes as a whole, as regards the variables (gender - university of affiliation). Recommendations of the study include the following:  the necessity of adopting and implementing relevant strategies and policies through which problems encountered by students in practicing the search for information sources can be addressed; working on using artificial intelligence for establishing an online learning system; conducting further research for investigating the impact of ICT in the behavior of searching for information sources among students; and conducting further research for investigating changes in use and perceptions of technology over time in order to track the digital transformation of high education. and its impact on effective community participation.