Exploring Innovative Information Seeking: The Perspectives of Cognitive Switching and Affinity with Digital Libraries

Publication date: September 2019Source: The Journal of Academic Librarianship, Volume 45, Issue 5Author(s): Xianjin Zha, Fenfang Cao, Yalan Yan, Jia Guo, Juan WangAbstractDrawing on adaptive structuration theory (AST), this study develops a research model to explore innovative information seeking in the context of digital libraries from the perspectives of cognitive switching and affinity. Innovative information seeking behavior is the combination of innovative IT (information technologies) use behavior and information seeking behavior and subsequently refers to innovative IT use oriented to information seeking. A research model was developed and survey data were collected. The partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to verify the research model. The findings suggest that affinity with digital libraries is the most powerful determinant of innovative information seeking. Meanwhile, task nonroutineness and disconfirmation have positive effects on innovative information seeking; the effect of social influence on innovative information seeking is overpowered by affinity with digital libraries. The findings and their implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Source: The Journal of Academic Librarianship - Category: Databases & Libraries Source Type: research