1
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INS2601 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER EXAM 2025
DUE DATE :31 OCTOBER 2025
QUESTION 1 [25]
a) Open Access
Open access refers to the unrestricted availability of scholarly research and
publications online without financial, legal, or technical barriers. In information work,
open access is significant because it ensures that all users, including students,
researchers, and professionals, can access credible knowledge regardless of
economic or geographic limitations. For example, a student in a rural area can
access peer-reviewed journals from platforms like AJOL or DOAJ, enabling
engagement with current research without institutional subscriptions. Open access
not only promotes knowledge equity but also supports evidence-based decision-
making and collaboration among scholars. Information professionals often curate
and promote open-access resources to ensure users have timely and reliable
information for academic, research, and professional purposes. Open access also
facilitates innovation and the preservation of indigenous knowledge, allowing
communities to engage meaningfully with scholarly content (Suber, 2012).
b) Information Overload
Information overload occurs when the amount of information available exceeds a
user’s capacity to process and evaluate it effectively. In today’s digital age, where
search engines, social media, and online databases generate immense volumes of
content daily, this is a major concern in user studies (Eppler & Mengis, 2004). For
instance, a postgraduate student researching renewable energy may retrieve
thousands of articles and multimedia sources, many of which are redundant,
contradictory, or irrelevant, leading to confusion and stress. Information
professionals help users manage overload by teaching advanced search techniques,
filtering content, and curating high-quality resources. Tools such as discovery
services, personalized alerts, and metadata tagging reduce cognitive load and
, 2
INS2601 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER EXAM 2025
DUE DATE :31 OCTOBER 2025
QUESTION 1 [25]
a) Open Access
Open access refers to the unrestricted availability of scholarly research and
publications online without financial, legal, or technical barriers. In information work,
open access is significant because it ensures that all users, including students,
researchers, and professionals, can access credible knowledge regardless of
economic or geographic limitations. For example, a student in a rural area can
access peer-reviewed journals from platforms like AJOL or DOAJ, enabling
engagement with current research without institutional subscriptions. Open access
not only promotes knowledge equity but also supports evidence-based decision-
making and collaboration among scholars. Information professionals often curate
and promote open-access resources to ensure users have timely and reliable
information for academic, research, and professional purposes. Open access also
facilitates innovation and the preservation of indigenous knowledge, allowing
communities to engage meaningfully with scholarly content (Suber, 2012).
b) Information Overload
Information overload occurs when the amount of information available exceeds a
user’s capacity to process and evaluate it effectively. In today’s digital age, where
search engines, social media, and online databases generate immense volumes of
content daily, this is a major concern in user studies (Eppler & Mengis, 2004). For
instance, a postgraduate student researching renewable energy may retrieve
thousands of articles and multimedia sources, many of which are redundant,
contradictory, or irrelevant, leading to confusion and stress. Information
professionals help users manage overload by teaching advanced search techniques,
filtering content, and curating high-quality resources. Tools such as discovery
services, personalized alerts, and metadata tagging reduce cognitive load and
