An information processing model of undergraduate electronic database information retrieval

摘要

In this paper, it is suggested that a number of theoretical and practical perspectives on information literacy can be obtained through the examination of tenets of cognitive psychology. One aspect of cognitive psychology - information processing theory - is applied to the development of a two-stage model of the information retrieval process. This model of information retrieval has utility along two dimensions: firstly, in the conceptualization of the information retrieval process; and secondly, in the development of teaching strategies informed by such a model. The efficacy of this model was tested in a large two-phase experimental study at the University of Canberra, Australia. Statistically significant results support the effectiveness of the concept-based teaching of information retrieval and the utility of the model as an explanation of the cognitive underpinnings of information retrieval.