Exploring the inescapable suffering among postgraduate researchers: information overload perceptions and implications for future research

Abstract

This study aims to get a deep understanding of the causes, effects, and remedies of information overload (IO) phenomenon among postgraduate scholars in the era of advanced internet technology. In-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews and focus group interviews were implemented. Majority of the participants in this study exposed that IO represents real inescapable suffering that severely affects their research performance in different stages of their research. Time-consuming, cost, inferior research work, and poor personal health, isolation, low level of creativity and productivity are some of the major drawbacks resulted from IO. The collected data were thematically analysed using NVivo 12 software; the results were introduced five main themes that described information overload’s forms, causes, consequences, and the ways to overcome IO phenomenon. Some practical insights and implications were provided to the decision-makers and professionals in higher education institutions to manage information overload and to reduce its negative effects among postgraduate students.