Understanding Scientists’ and Engineers’ Information Use Habits, Preferences, and Satisfaction

This report is geared toward information management professionals who serve scientists and engineers - important information consumers who spend between one-quarter and one-third of their work week gathering and analyzing information. They continue to encounter problems accessing the information they need, and this report provides valuable insight into opportunities to improve information products, services, and environments in the enterprise. Outsell has tracked the information behaviors and preferences of scientists and engineers for eight years, and this report features our latest research on this user population. It analyzes their current information needs and habits, and considers implications for the IM functions that serve them. The report contains:

- An overview profile of scientists and engineers as information consumers, including how they use information, top information types used, and their satisfaction levels with major vendors;
- Data and analysis of scientists’ and engineers’ information habits and unmet needs;
- A detailed look at this group’s use of interactive media;
- Data and analysis on scientists’ and engineers’ priorities for IM functions and roles;
- Data and analysis of scientists’ and engineers’ information spending and purchasing;
- Imperatives for information managers.