Children as information seekers: what researchers tell us

Children and adolescents seek information both to support their school-based learning activities and their leisure activities. They continue to use traditional information sources such as books and magazines, but increasingly turn towards the Internet when seeking information for either educational or recreational purposes. This article discusses their information-seeking behavior when confronting both electronic and print sources. In particular it focuses upon the source selection, retrieval strategies (searching and browsing) and information evaluation techniques adopted by young users, as well as the technological support that can be offered them through, for example, appropriately designed interfaces. It draws upon information-seeking theories as they relate to young people, research studies of information-seeking behaviors among children and adolescents, and experimental and operational information systems targeted at young users.

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