Abstract

This study aims to propose educational information services for social science teachers by analyzing their information seeking behaviors. The author carried out in-depth interviews with thirteen social science teachers in Daejeon and analyzed them using an information seeking behavior model of Leckie, Pettigrew and Sylvain. The study results showed that information needs of social science teachers arise from extrinsic and intrinsic motivations according to their work roles and tasks. Also, the characteristics of information needs such as repeatability, predictability, urgency, and complexity appear to influence information seeking behaviors. The participants used various information sources including web, book, and interpersonal sources. Moreover, the study observed some factors that may influence perception toward information sources such as trustworthiness, information quality, packaging, prior success experience. Finally, the perception change and use frequency of information sources were also identified. Based on these findings, the author proposed information services for social science teachers including integrated information provision services, information literacy programs, networking services and readers advisory services.