Information Overload of Academic Staff in Higher Education Institutions in Estonia

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study that explores perceived information overload among the academic staff of higher education institutions in Estonia. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the perception of information overload, and information management, and information literacy. We formulated six research questions: How do the academic staff experience information overload related to their work? How do the academic staff develop their information literacy? What are the information sharing practices at the higher education institutions? What are the barriers to the effective information seeking and use? How satisfied is the academic staff with their own and their colleagues’ work in higher education institutions? Are there any differences concerning the perception of information overload, development of information literacy and information sharing practices between universities and professional higher education institutions? The study combined quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection.