Understanding the role of social capital in the everyday information behaviours of Arabic-speaking women who have recently migrated to the Wellington region

Abstract

This research draws upon a series of studies that examine the behaviours of migrants in relation to their search for everyday information. It focuses on the role of social capital in the information seeking behaviour of Arabic-speaking women who have recently (within the last five years) migrated to the Wellington region. In focusing on how everyday information is sought and acquired by these women this research project has tried to : - identify the characteristics of the information sources used - determine why they are selected as information sources - understand the relationship, if any, between the information seeker and the information sources - determine what further factors affect the selection of information sources, and - determine how the information collected from the source is used, if at all, by the seeker. The findings from this study have been used to identify common patterns in information behaviour and relationships within this community. It is hoped that the conclusions from this study will help to further empower migrants already settled in New Zealand and will give information authorities and organisations greater understanding in providing resources for those who arrive in the future.