BANDUNG – Students from the Library and Information Science (PSI) Study Program at the Faculty of Communication Science (Fikom), Padjadjaran University (Unpad), Reginawati Silalahi and Ikhsan Sirojul Wahhaj, along with supervising lecturers Prijana, M.Si. and Dr. Evi Nursanti Rukmana, M.I.Kom., have successfully published their research findings. Their study, titled “Information Seeking Model of Padjadjaran University Geology Engineering Students: A Study of the ASK (Anomalous State of Knowledge) Theory,” sheds light on the information-seeking patterns among Geology students, a critical area of focus amid rapid technological advancements. The research was based on a fundamental question: is a student’s knowledge static or dynamic? The answer to this question was sought through their information-seeking behavior. The study aimed to prove that how students search for information can reflect the extent to which they develop their knowledge. Static information searching is like staying within a single topic, whereas dynamic searching shows exploration and the development of new ideas.
To test this hypothesis, the research team used the ASK (Anomalous State of Knowledge) Theory, introduced by J. Belkin in 1985, as its theoretical foundation. This theory provides a framework for examining these different information-seeking behaviors. Using a quantitative method and a survey approach, data was collected from 161 Geology Engineering students at Unpad via an online questionnaire distributed through WhatsApp, ensuring an efficient data collection process from a representative sample. The results of the data analysis, conducted using the Pearson Product Moment correlation with SPSS software, showed a significant finding. The majority of respondents were found to be more dominant in dynamic information seeking. This means that the Geology students were not fixated on a single topic; instead, they continuously explored and connected various pieces of information to broaden their understanding.
These findings lead to an important conclusion: dynamic knowledge fosters critical thinking. Students with dynamic information-seeking patterns tend to be more exploratory and capable of integrating data from various sources. This ability is crucial for supporting the complex information needs in a field like Geology Engineering. This achievement, published in Bandung in 2024, is not only a source of pride for Fikom Unpad but also a substantial contribution to the literature in the field of Library and Information Science. Furthermore, this finding is also relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). As such, the academic quality and self-learning capabilities of students can be continuously improved, aligning with global goals for sustainable education and innovation.
SDG 4: Quality Education aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. This study supports this goal by analyzing how Unpad students, particularly in the field of Geology, develop their knowledge. By discovering that they have a dynamic information-seeking pattern, the research demonstrates that they are active in the self-learning process. This pattern indicates that the education they receive is not static or based on rote memorization but instead encourages critical thinking, exploration, and the ability to learn throughout their lives. This is the very core of quality education that is relevant to the needs of the present and the future.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. This research is relevant to this goal because dynamic information-seeking behavior is the very foundation of innovation. Students’ ability to continuously seek, integrate, and connect information from various sources is an essential skill for solving complex problems and creating new solutions. This is crucial for them as they enter the workforce in the fields of industry and infrastructure. In other words, the research shows how universities directly contribute to creating innovative individuals who will drive industrial progress and infrastructural development in the future.
The publication can be accessed via the following link: http://media.unpad.ac.id/files/publikasi/2025/rpm_20250213020604_4874.pdf
Writers: Ridha Amalia, Nadziva Shaqeena, and Delfin Gusti Wanda
