Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Information Literacy Training has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with information seeking behaviour. This growing interest reflects the recognition that information literacy training does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Developing Economies.

Within the context of Developing Economies, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of information literacy training on information seeking behaviour, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on information literacy training, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with information seeking behaviour, particularly within Developing Economies. Many organizations continue to make decisions about information literacy training without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect information seeking behaviour. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Information Literacy Training on information seeking behaviour in Developing Economies.
2. To assess the extent to which information literacy training influences information seeking behaviour within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with information literacy training in relation to information seeking behaviour.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing information literacy training in order to improve information seeking behaviour.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of information literacy training on information seeking behaviour in Developing Economies?
2. To what extent does information literacy training influence information seeking behaviour within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with information literacy training in relation to information seeking behaviour?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize information literacy training in order to improve information seeking behaviour?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around information seeking behaviour. For managers and practitioners within Developing Economies, the study provides practical insight into how information literacy training can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on library and information science by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Information Literacy Training and its relationship with information seeking behaviour within the context of Developing Economies. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.