Identifying the Components of Collaborative Information-Seeking Behavior among Researchers Concerning Indigenous Knowledge: A Case Study of the Turkmen Sahra Region

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran

2 Ph.D. student, Department of Information Science, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran

3 Department of Information Science ، Islamic Azad University, Tonkabon Branch, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: The information search process, information behavior, and particularly collaborative information-seeking behavior (CISB) are fundamental human activities. Examining the conceptual dimensions and technical enablers of CISB deepens understanding of these collaborative dynamics. This study identifies the components of CISB among researchers investigating indigenous knowledge in the Turkmen Sahra region.
Methodology: This applied, qualitative study used thematic analysis. The target population comprised specialists in indigenous knowledge and collaborative information-seeking within the Turkmen Sahra region. Using snowball sampling until theoretical saturation, 13 participants were interviewed via semi-structured protocols provided in advance. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA.
Findings: Line-by-line coding of interview transcripts yielded 54 initial concepts after deduplication. Through iterative semantic clustering and validation by four Ph.D. holders in Information Science and Knowledge Studies, these refined into 32 basic/foundational themes, 9 organizing themes, and 3 global/overarching themes.
Conclusion: Cultural traditions, ethnic and linguistic diversity, resource constraints, indigenous knowledge valuation, and community collaboration readiness act as key contextual and intervening factors for regional researchers. These insights highlight the necessity of structured strategies for preserving and leveraging indigenous knowledge, enhancing research quality, fostering community participation, and advancing socio-ecological sustainability.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Aghajantabar F, Tabari M, Mahmoudi J. (2021). The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Employment, Income of Local People and Conservation of Hircanian Forests from the Viewpoint of Vaz Area Residents, Noor City. Ifej, 9(17), 123-132. doi:10.52547/ifej.9.17.123. [In Persian]

Attride-Stirling, J. (2001). Thematic networks: an analytic tool for qualitative research. Qualitative research, 1(3), 385-405.

Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Terry, G. (2021). Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. SAGE Publications Ltd.

Chuang, C. H., & Tsai, T. I. (2019). Individual Differences in Undergraduate Students' Collaborative Information Seeking Behavior When Working on Group Projects: A Study on Willingness to Collaborate and Sources Used. Journal of Library and Information Studies, 17(2), 103-129. doi: 10.6182/jlis.201912

Dehvari, B., Riyahinia, N., & Mahmodi Topkanloo, H. (2019). Identification of indigenous knowledge items and presenting the knowledge management model of indigenous medicine in Makran district. Human Information Interaction, 6(1), 89- 102. [In Persian]

Ebrahimzadeh, S., Rezaei Sharifabadi, S., Karbala Aghaie Kamran, M., & Dalkir, K. (2020). Triggers and strategies related to the collaborative information-seeking behaviour of researchers in ResearchGate. Online Information Review, 44(5), 1077-1096. doi: 10.1108/OIR-12-2019-0380

Fadai, I. (2016). An overview of interpretative theory. The third international conference of psychology, holistic science, educational sciences and social studies. Shiraz, 1-7. [In Persian]

Fardous, J., & Du, J. T. (2019). Characteristics of collaborative information seeking activitiesduring group trip planning: A preliminary study. Proceedings of the Association for Information Science & Technology, 56(1), 648-650. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.119.

Fattahi, S., & Naeimi Seddigh, A. (2017). Analysis of Researchers Information Seeking Behavior in National Search Engine Thesis Information System in Iran. Iranian Journal of Information Management, 2(5-6), 31-58. https://www.aimj.ir/article_93064.html?lang=en. [In Persian]

Gholami, S., Rezaee sharifabadi, S., & Karbala Aghaei Kamran, M. (2021). Introducing Common Components Explained in Collaborative Information Seeking and Retrieval Models. Library and Information Science Research, 10(2), 116-139. doi: 10.22067/infosci.2021.23937.0. [In Persian]

Heinstrom, J (2005). The influence of personality and study approach on students’ information-seeking behavior. Journal of Documentation, 61(2), 228-247.

Khani, M., Hoveidi, H., Yavari, A. R., & Khani, M. (2020). Using factor analysis in compilation, evaluation and identification of the most effective criteria of indigenous knowledge in the management and planning of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran (Yazd Province). Indigenous Knowledge, 7(14), 105-152. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2021.60055.1262. [In Persian]

Li, Y., & Fan, S. (2021). Collaborative Information Seeking Behavior of College Student Learning-oriented Teams. Documentation, Information and Knowledge, 38(6), 87 – 99. doi: 10.13366/j.dik.2021.06.087

Matosiac,K.K. (2016). Investigating the Information Retrieval Model and Information Behavior in Digital Image Collections: The Cognitive Approach of the Students in the First semester of the Master's Degree.

Membele, G. M., Naidu, M., & Mutanga, O. (2022). Integrating indigenous knowledge and geographical information system in mapping flood vulnerability in informal settlements in a South African context: a critical review. South African Geographical Journal, 104(4), 446-466. doi: 10.1080/03736245.2021.1973907

Norouzi, Y., & Khavidaki, S. (2015). Collaborative Information Seeking: Concepts, Measures, Systems. Sciences and Techniques of Information Management, 1(1), 141-162. doi: 10.22091/stim.2015.605. [Persian]

Oroma, J. O., & Ali, G. (2018). Examining the Use of Information Systems to Preserve Indigenous Knowledge in Uganda: A Case from Muni University. Modern education and computer sciences, 5, 3643. doi: 10.5815/ijmecs.2018.05.05

Sharifi, G. (2020). Prevention and treatment of common diseases among Zurkhaneh instructors based on indigenous knowledge. Indigenous Knowledge, 7(14), 221-253. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2021.59217.1255.[In Persian]

Shoham, J. (2017). The main elements of the data retrieval model and information behavior are the study of the needs and methods of access of researchers to information and information resources. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 40(2), 101-106.

Whit Mayer, B. (2017). Investigating the relationship between students' cognitive beliefs and their information seeking behavior in Ivy's college league using the Cultura Model and the four extended cognitive patterns of the field of psychology. Journal of Documentation, 49(4), 356-369.

Yousofvand, S., Barani, H., Azimi, M., Niknahad, H., & Sharifiyan, A. (2022). Ethnoecology of Turkmen Sahra saline and alkaline rangelands using traditional knowledge of Turkmen herders: a case study in Aq Qala county, Golestan Province. Indigenous Knowledge, 9(17), 321-354. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2023.66161.1300. [In Persian]

Zare, Z., Mirzabeigi, M., & Sotudeh, H. (2022). The effect of trust on collaborative information seeking behavior of postgraduate students of Shiraz University. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries, 28 (2), 54-68. doi: 10.52547/publij.28.2.54. [In Persian]

آقاجان تبار، ف.، طبری‌کوچکسرایی، م.، و محمودی، ج. (1400).  نقش دانش بومی در اشتغال، درآمد افراد محلی و حفاظت از جنگل‌های هیرکانی از دیدگاه ساکنین منطقه واز، شهرستان نور. بوم‌شناسی جنگل های ایران، 9 (17)، 132-123. doi:10.52547/ifej.9.17.123
افروغ,محمد . (1403). جستاری در دانش و هنر بومی دستبافته های کُرمانجی. دو فصلنامه دانش های بومی ایران, 11(22), 1-33. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2023.70434.1338
خانی، م.، هویدی، ح.، یاوری، الف.، و خانی، م. (1399). استفاده از تحلیل عاملی جهت تدوین، ارزیابی و شناسایی موثرترین معیارهای دانش بومی در مدیریت و برنامه‌ریزی منابع آب مناطق خشک و نیمه خشک ایران (استان یزد). دانش‌های بومی ایران، 7(14)، 105-152.doi: 10.22054/qjik.2021.60055.1262
دهواری، ب.، ریاحی نیا، ن.، و محمودی توپکانلو، ح. (1398). شناسایی مؤلفه‌های دانش بومی و ارائه الگوی مدیریت دانش طب بومی در منطقه مکران. تعامل انسان و اطلاعات، 6 (1)، 102-89. http://hii.khu.ac.ir/article-1-2857-fa.html
رضایی‌شریف‌آبادی، س.، غلامی، ش.، و کربلاآقایی، م. (1399). شناسایی مؤلفه‌های مشترک در مدل‌های رفتار اطلاع‌یابی و بازیابی اطلاعات مشارکتی. پژوهشنامه کتابداری و اطلاع رسانی، 10(2)،  139-116. doi: 10.22067/infosci.2021.23937.0
زارع، ز.،  میرزابیگی، م.، و ستوده، ه. (1401الف). بررسى رفتارهاى اطلاع جویى مشارکتى دانشجویان تحصیلات تکمیلى دانشگاه شیراز. مطالعات کتابدارى و سازمان‌دهى اطلاعات، 33(3)، 37-51.  doi: 10.30484/nastinfo.2022.3221.2157
زارع، ز.،  میرزابیگی، م.، و ستوده، ه. (1401ب). تأثیر اعتماد بر تمایل به رفتاراطلاع‌جویی مشارکتی دانشجویان تحصیلات تکمیلی دانشگاه شیراز. تحقیقات اطلاع‌رسانی و کتابخانه‌های عمومی، 28(2)، 68-54. 10.52547/publij.28.2.54  doi:
شریفی، گ.(1399). پیشگیری و درمان بیماری‌های شایع در میان مرشدان زورخانه بر اساس دانش بومی. دو فصلنامه علمی دانش‌های بومی ایران، 6(14)، 253-221. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2021.59217.1255
نوروزی، ی.، و خویدکی، س.  (1394). اطلاع‌جویی مشارکتی: مفاهیم، ابعاد، سیستم‌ها.  علوم و فنون مدیریت اطلاعات، 1(1)، 141-162. doi: 10.22091/stim.2015.605
یوسف‌وند، س.، بارانی، ح.،  عظیمی، م.، نیک‌‌نهاد، ح.، و شریفیان، الف. (1401). بررسی اتنواکولوژی مراتع شور و قلیایی ترکمن‌صحرا با استفاده از دانش سنتی دامداران ترکمن: مطالعه موردی شهرستان آ‌ق‌قلا استان گلستان. دو فصلنامه دانش‌های بومی ایران، 9(17)، 354-321. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2023.66161.1300
Aghajantabar F, Tabari M, Mahmoudi J. (2021). The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Employment, Income of Local People and Conservation of Hircanian Forests from the Viewpoint of Vaz Area Residents, Noor City. Ifej, 9(17), 123-132. doi:10.52547/ifej.9.17.123. [In Persian]
Attride-Stirling, J. (2001). Thematic networks: an analytic tool for qualitative research. Qualitative research, 1(3), 385-405.
Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Terry, G. (2021). Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Chuang, C. H., & Tsai, T. I. (2019). Individual Differences in Undergraduate Students' Collaborative Information Seeking Behavior When Working on Group Projects: A Study on Willingness to Collaborate and Sources Used. Journal of Library and Information Studies, 17(2), 103-129. doi: 10.6182/jlis.201912
Dehvari, B., Riyahinia, N., & Mahmodi Topkanloo, H. (2019). Identification of indigenous knowledge items and presenting the knowledge management model of indigenous medicine in Makran district. Human Information Interaction, 6(1), 89- 102. [In Persian]
Ebrahimzadeh, S., Rezaei Sharifabadi, S., Karbala Aghaie Kamran, M., & Dalkir, K. (2020). Triggers and strategies related to the collaborative information-seeking behaviour of researchers in ResearchGate. Online Information Review, 44(5), 1077-1096. doi: 10.1108/OIR-12-2019-0380
Fadai, I. (2016). An overview of interpretative theory. The third international conference of psychology, holistic science, educational sciences and social studies. Shiraz, 1-7. [In Persian]
Fardous, J., & Du, J. T. (2019). Characteristics of collaborative information seeking activitiesduring group trip planning: A preliminary study. Proceedings of the Association for Information Science & Technology, 56(1), 648-650. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.119.
Fattahi, S., & Naeimi Seddigh, A. (2017). Analysis of Researchers Information Seeking Behavior in National Search Engine Thesis Information System in Iran. Iranian Journal of Information Management, 2(5-6), 31-58. https://www.aimj.ir/article_93064.html?lang=en. [In Persian]
Gholami, S., Rezaee sharifabadi, S., & Karbala Aghaei Kamran, M. (2021). Introducing Common Components Explained in Collaborative Information Seeking and Retrieval Models. Library and Information Science Research, 10(2), 116-139. doi: 10.22067/infosci.2021.23937.0. [In Persian]
Heinstrom, J (2005). The influence of personality and study approach on students’ information-seeking behavior. Journal of Documentation, 61(2), 228-247.
Khani, M., Hoveidi, H., Yavari, A. R., & Khani, M. (2020). Using factor analysis in compilation, evaluation and identification of the most effective criteria of indigenous knowledge in the management and planning of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran (Yazd Province). Indigenous Knowledge, 7(14), 105-152. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2021.60055.1262. [In Persian]
Li, Y., & Fan, S. (2021). Collaborative Information Seeking Behavior of College Student Learning-oriented Teams. Documentation, Information and Knowledge, 38(6), 87 – 99. doi: 10.13366/j.dik.2021.06.087
Matosiac,K.K. (2016). Investigating the Information Retrieval Model and Information Behavior in Digital Image Collections: The Cognitive Approach of the Students in the First semester of the Master's Degree.
Membele, G. M., Naidu, M., & Mutanga, O. (2022). Integrating indigenous knowledge and geographical information system in mapping flood vulnerability in informal settlements in a South African context: a critical review. South African Geographical Journal, 104(4), 446-466. doi: 10.1080/03736245.2021.1973907
Norouzi, Y., & Khavidaki, S. (2015). Collaborative Information Seeking: Concepts, Measures, Systems. Sciences and Techniques of Information Management, 1(1), 141-162. doi: 10.22091/stim.2015.605. [Persian]
Oroma, J. O., & Ali, G. (2018). Examining the Use of Information Systems to Preserve Indigenous Knowledge in Uganda: A Case from Muni University. Modern education and computer sciences, 5, 3643. doi: 10.5815/ijmecs.2018.05.05
Sharifi, G. (2020). Prevention and treatment of common diseases among Zurkhaneh instructors based on indigenous knowledge. Indigenous Knowledge, 7(14), 221-253. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2021.59217.1255.[In Persian]
Shoham, J. (2017). The main elements of the data retrieval model and information behavior are the study of the needs and methods of access of researchers to information and information resources. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 40(2), 101-106.
Whit Mayer, B. (2017). Investigating the relationship between students' cognitive beliefs and their information seeking behavior in Ivy's college league using the Cultura Model and the four extended cognitive patterns of the field of psychology. Journal of Documentation, 49(4), 356-369.
Yousofvand, S., Barani, H., Azimi, M., Niknahad, H., & Sharifiyan, A. (2022). Ethnoecology of Turkmen Sahra saline and alkaline rangelands using traditional knowledge of Turkmen herders: a case study in Aq Qala county, Golestan Province. Indigenous Knowledge, 9(17), 321-354. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2023.66161.1300. [In Persian]
Zare, Z., Mirzabeigi, M., & Sotudeh, H. (2022). The effect of trust on collaborative information seeking behavior of postgraduate students of Shiraz University. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries, 28 (2), 54-68. doi: 10.52547/publij.28.2.54. [In Persian]
CAPTCHA Image