Evaluation of information seeking behavior of Arak University faculty members in using the Internet

The main object of this research is to evaluate information seeking behavior of Arak University faculty members in using the Internet. Furthermore, this research examines differences between information seeking behavior among humanities, natural sciences, engineering and agricultural science; as well as examines relation between factors such as computer skills and its impact on information searching behavior; sexuality and its relation with the rate of computer using. The research method in this research is survey method. The faculty members of Arak University constitute the popularity of this research. Also, questionnaire is the research's information gathering tool. The findings of research showed that most important aim of information search among faculty members are research purpose, educational and updating special information, and most uses belong to electronic magazines and databases. Web, e-mail and chat rooms are most important possibilities of Internet, and search engines, address of information sources and metasearch engines are the most effective search tools. Also, advanced searching, keyword searching and simple searching are most using methods for information searching in the Internet. The network traffic and low speed of Internet are main difficulties in using of this technology. Furthermore, they mentioned that the network traffic, low speed of accessing to the Internet and the lack of access to the original files are their main challenges in using the Internet technology. The information seeking behavior of faculty members are different. There is a significant relation between information resources and verbal skill variables, and also between the rate of using the Internet and sex variable.