THE USAGE OF INFORMATION RETRIEVAL TOOLS: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LITHUANIAN AND PORTUGUESE STUDENTS

Abstract

With the development of information technologies, more and more information retrieval
tools, containing a wide variety of information, can be found. Internet resources, universal and
specialized search engines, virtual libraries are becoming the main information retrieval tools for
students. The article introduces an exploratory (pilot) research aiming to find out the differences
of information retrieval between Lithuanian and Portuguese students. Šiauliai State College
offers a unique study programme Information Management, having a signed contract of a
double diploma with Porto (Portugal) Polytechnic Institute Porto Accounting and Business
School (ISCAP). 10 Portuguese and 10 Lithuanian students participated in the research. The
online questionnaire was forwarded to the students of ISCAP Porto Accounting and Business
School and to the second year students of the study programme of Information Management at
Šiauliai State College. The research revealed that the respondents Lithuanian students look for
scientific papers and books, whereas Portuguese students search for basic information and
scientific papers. All the respondents of the survey identified Google Scholar as the most
important search engine for scientific information retrieval.
Key words: information retrieval, information retrieval tools, information retrieval
systems, Portuguese students, Lithuanian students.