INS3703
Assignment 1 Semester 2 2026
Unique number:
Due date: 21 August 2026
1. QUESTION 1: SCENARIO A
1.1 Meaning of information behaviour
Information behaviour describes the different ways in which people respond to
information in their daily, academic or working lives. It includes becoming aware of
an information need, deciding where to look, searching for information, judging what
has been found, using it and sometimes rejecting it. The concept also includes the
feelings and reactions that arise while a person is dealing with information, because
searching is not only a technical activity but also a human experience (Wilson, 1999;
Maluleka, 2020:3). For example, a student may realise that existing knowledge is not
enough to complete an assignment, search several online sources, compare their
credibility and then use the most suitable material in the final paper. Information
behaviour is therefore broader than information searching because it covers the
,1. QUESTION 1: SCENARIO A
1.1 Meaning of information behaviour
Information behaviour describes the different ways in which people respond to
information in their daily, academic or working lives. It includes becoming aware of
an information need, deciding where to look, searching for information, judging what
has been found, using it and sometimes rejecting it. The concept also includes the
feelings and reactions that arise while a person is dealing with information, because
searching is not only a technical activity but also a human experience (Wilson, 1999;
Maluleka, 2020:3). For example, a student may realise that existing knowledge is not
enough to complete an assignment, search several online sources, compare their
credibility and then use the most suitable material in the final paper. Information
behaviour is therefore broader than information searching because it covers the
whole relationship between a person, an information need, available sources and the
context in which information is handled (Bawden, 2006; Wilson, 2006).
1.2 Factors influencing Neo's information behaviour
1.2.1 Cognitive knowledge and information literacy
Neo's limited knowledge of artificial intelligence ethics is an important cognitive factor
because she does not yet have enough subject knowledge to judge which search
terms, arguments or sources are most relevant. Existing knowledge helps a user
define a problem, recognise useful information and evaluate evidence, while weak
knowledge can make this process more difficult (Hepworth, 2007; Maluleka, 2020:4-
6). Her difficulty using academic databases also suggests limited information literacy
and search skills. She may know how to type words into Google, but academic
databases often require the use of keywords, filters, subject terms and other search
techniques. This matters because a user who cannot control a search system may
choose easier sources even when better information is available elsewhere (Yang,
1997; Desta, Du Preez & Ngulube, 2017). In Neo's case, the result is that
convenience becomes more important than academic quality.
1.2.2 Affective factors and search anxiety
, Neo's anxiety when a search produces many results is an affective factor because it
relates to the emotions she experiences while looking for information. Feelings such
as uncertainty, confusion and insecurity can influence whether a person continues
with a difficult search or moves to an easier source (Hepworth, 2007; Maluleka,
2020:5-6). When Neo sees hundreds or thousands of database results, she may feel
that she does not know where to begin, which can cause her to abandon the
database and return to social media or a general search engine. This emotional
response can also reduce her willingness to experiment with unfamiliar search tools.
Her behaviour therefore shows that information seeking is shaped by confidence and
feelings as much as by access to technology (Wilson, 2006).
1.2.3 Search habits preferences and source credibility
Neo prefers social media and ordinary Google searches because these tools are
familiar and easy for her to use. People commonly rely on methods they already
know, especially when new information systems seem complicated or require skills
they have not yet developed (Maluleka, 2020:8). Her preference is therefore partly a
habit and partly a response to low confidence in the databases. However, familiar
sources are not automatically reliable sources. Credibility assessment depends on
factors such as the authority of the source, the evidence provided, accuracy,
relevance and the context in which the information appears (Hilligoss & Rieh, 2008).
Because Neo has weak subject knowledge, she struggles to recognise outdated
claims, unsupported opinions or promotional content. This makes her more likely to
accept unreliable material simply because it is easy to understand or appears high in
a search result.
1.3 External factors affecting Neo's search for and use of information
1.3.1 Academic task and information environment
Neo is working within an academic environment where the assignment itself creates
a demanding information need. A research paper on the ethical use of artificial
intelligence in higher education requires recent scholarly evidence, balanced
arguments and credible academic sources, which is more complex than a simple
factual search. Tasks influence both the information required and the way users
search for it, while the academic environment provides resources that may enable or
Assignment 1 Semester 2 2026
Unique number:
Due date: 21 August 2026
1. QUESTION 1: SCENARIO A
1.1 Meaning of information behaviour
Information behaviour describes the different ways in which people respond to
information in their daily, academic or working lives. It includes becoming aware of
an information need, deciding where to look, searching for information, judging what
has been found, using it and sometimes rejecting it. The concept also includes the
feelings and reactions that arise while a person is dealing with information, because
searching is not only a technical activity but also a human experience (Wilson, 1999;
Maluleka, 2020:3). For example, a student may realise that existing knowledge is not
enough to complete an assignment, search several online sources, compare their
credibility and then use the most suitable material in the final paper. Information
behaviour is therefore broader than information searching because it covers the
,1. QUESTION 1: SCENARIO A
1.1 Meaning of information behaviour
Information behaviour describes the different ways in which people respond to
information in their daily, academic or working lives. It includes becoming aware of
an information need, deciding where to look, searching for information, judging what
has been found, using it and sometimes rejecting it. The concept also includes the
feelings and reactions that arise while a person is dealing with information, because
searching is not only a technical activity but also a human experience (Wilson, 1999;
Maluleka, 2020:3). For example, a student may realise that existing knowledge is not
enough to complete an assignment, search several online sources, compare their
credibility and then use the most suitable material in the final paper. Information
behaviour is therefore broader than information searching because it covers the
whole relationship between a person, an information need, available sources and the
context in which information is handled (Bawden, 2006; Wilson, 2006).
1.2 Factors influencing Neo's information behaviour
1.2.1 Cognitive knowledge and information literacy
Neo's limited knowledge of artificial intelligence ethics is an important cognitive factor
because she does not yet have enough subject knowledge to judge which search
terms, arguments or sources are most relevant. Existing knowledge helps a user
define a problem, recognise useful information and evaluate evidence, while weak
knowledge can make this process more difficult (Hepworth, 2007; Maluleka, 2020:4-
6). Her difficulty using academic databases also suggests limited information literacy
and search skills. She may know how to type words into Google, but academic
databases often require the use of keywords, filters, subject terms and other search
techniques. This matters because a user who cannot control a search system may
choose easier sources even when better information is available elsewhere (Yang,
1997; Desta, Du Preez & Ngulube, 2017). In Neo's case, the result is that
convenience becomes more important than academic quality.
1.2.2 Affective factors and search anxiety
, Neo's anxiety when a search produces many results is an affective factor because it
relates to the emotions she experiences while looking for information. Feelings such
as uncertainty, confusion and insecurity can influence whether a person continues
with a difficult search or moves to an easier source (Hepworth, 2007; Maluleka,
2020:5-6). When Neo sees hundreds or thousands of database results, she may feel
that she does not know where to begin, which can cause her to abandon the
database and return to social media or a general search engine. This emotional
response can also reduce her willingness to experiment with unfamiliar search tools.
Her behaviour therefore shows that information seeking is shaped by confidence and
feelings as much as by access to technology (Wilson, 2006).
1.2.3 Search habits preferences and source credibility
Neo prefers social media and ordinary Google searches because these tools are
familiar and easy for her to use. People commonly rely on methods they already
know, especially when new information systems seem complicated or require skills
they have not yet developed (Maluleka, 2020:8). Her preference is therefore partly a
habit and partly a response to low confidence in the databases. However, familiar
sources are not automatically reliable sources. Credibility assessment depends on
factors such as the authority of the source, the evidence provided, accuracy,
relevance and the context in which the information appears (Hilligoss & Rieh, 2008).
Because Neo has weak subject knowledge, she struggles to recognise outdated
claims, unsupported opinions or promotional content. This makes her more likely to
accept unreliable material simply because it is easy to understand or appears high in
a search result.
1.3 External factors affecting Neo's search for and use of information
1.3.1 Academic task and information environment
Neo is working within an academic environment where the assignment itself creates
a demanding information need. A research paper on the ethical use of artificial
intelligence in higher education requires recent scholarly evidence, balanced
arguments and credible academic sources, which is more complex than a simple
factual search. Tasks influence both the information required and the way users
search for it, while the academic environment provides resources that may enable or
