Students' Expertise in Information Searching Skills: A Survey of Effective Query Reformulation Efficiency Among University Students.

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Title: Students' Expertise in Information Searching Skills: A Survey of Effective Query Reformulation Efficiency Among University Students.
Authors: Uddin, Md. Riaz1 (AUTHOR), Karim, Md. Abdul1 (AUTHOR) makarim.iis@nstu.edu.bd, Yesmin, Shamima1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Science & Technology Libraries. 2026, Vol. 45 Issue 1, p85-99. 15p.
Subjects: Boolean expressions, Information-seeking behavior, Internet research, Research skills, Training of librarians, College students, Database searching, Information skills
Geographic Terms: Bangladesh
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the advanced search skills of undergraduate students in tertiary academia. Using a mixed-method research approach, quantitative data was collected through a survey with a structured questionnaire. A convenience sample technique was used to choose the respondents. Among the students of the 33-degree offering departments of Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh, 347 respondents backed their responses. The academic librarians were also interviewed to learn their role in training students with query formulation, and effective search techniques for retrieving information from scholarly databases. When it comes to using Internet resources, the result shows that the majority of respondents (91.4%) use the Internet every day for research and academic reasons. The most used advanced strategies are Boolean operators (57.6%) followed by phrase search (51%). Even while students might be aware of some sophisticated search techniques, their real-world implementation is still lacking. To improve students' navigation abilities, this study suggests incorporating sophisticated research techniques into the university's curriculum. To help undergraduate students become proficient in information seeking and, eventually, improve their research skills, this study also created a module titled "Navigation to e-resources." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Science & Technology Libraries is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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  Data: Students' Expertise in Information Searching Skills: A Survey of Effective Query Reformulation Efficiency Among University Students.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Science+%26+Technology+Libraries%22">Science & Technology Libraries</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 45 Issue 1, p85-99. 15p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Boolean+expressions%22">Boolean expressions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information-seeking+behavior%22">Information-seeking behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Internet+research%22">Internet research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+skills%22">Research skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Training+of+librarians%22">Training of librarians</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+students%22">College students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Database+searching%22">Database searching</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+skills%22">Information skills</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bangladesh%22">Bangladesh</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The purpose of this study was to investigate the advanced search skills of undergraduate students in tertiary academia. Using a mixed-method research approach, quantitative data was collected through a survey with a structured questionnaire. A convenience sample technique was used to choose the respondents. Among the students of the 33-degree offering departments of Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh, 347 respondents backed their responses. The academic librarians were also interviewed to learn their role in training students with query formulation, and effective search techniques for retrieving information from scholarly databases. When it comes to using Internet resources, the result shows that the majority of respondents (91.4%) use the Internet every day for research and academic reasons. The most used advanced strategies are Boolean operators (57.6%) followed by phrase search (51%). Even while students might be aware of some sophisticated search techniques, their real-world implementation is still lacking. To improve students' navigation abilities, this study suggests incorporating sophisticated research techniques into the university's curriculum. To help undergraduate students become proficient in information seeking and, eventually, improve their research skills, this study also created a module titled "Navigation to e-resources." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Science & Technology Libraries is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/0194262X.2025.2586530
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 85
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Boolean expressions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information-seeking behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Internet research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Training of librarians
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Database searching
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bangladesh
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Students' Expertise in Information Searching Skills: A Survey of Effective Query Reformulation Efficiency Among University Students.
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            NameFull: Uddin, Md. Riaz
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            NameFull: Karim, Md. Abdul
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            NameFull: Yesmin, Shamima
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              M: 01
              Text: 2026
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              Y: 2026
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