Physicists' information behavior: a qualitative study of users

The work analyzes information seeking behavior of students who are in the process of getting a PhD in Physics or who have recently done so. The analysis was made within the sense making approach which is centered in the user. An attempt is made to explain situations in the seek and use of information in terms of the sources, the relevance judgment criteria, organizational strategies as well as information presentation strategies. The study also looks at the physicists feelings during the information seeking process and the way the idea of information evolves in their minds throughout their PhD.