Student information use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Information Science
• Sociology
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted student life starting in early 2020.
• Students experienced significant stress, turmoil, and trauma during this period.
• Pre-pandemic information consumption patterns among students were subject to change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how student information use evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify specific changes in the types and frequency of information resources utilized by students.
• To explore the influence of factors like political affiliation on information consumption.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed in 2021.
• Data collection involved surveys and subsequent focus groups with students.
• Analysis focused on news sources, social media, political affiliations, and information responses.

Main Results:

• Significant shifts in student information use were observed during the pandemic.
• Changes in the frequency and types of traditional and social media sources were documented.
• The study identified correlations between political affiliations and altered information consumption patterns.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrably altered student information use patterns.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for academic institutions and information providers.
• Further research can explore the long-term implications of pandemic-induced shifts in information behavior.