2026 Volume 36 Issue 2 Pages 295-304
This study investigates the usage patterns of academic information search tools and the influence of experience throughout the research cycle (pre-, during, and post-research) in today’s digital environment. A survey of 25 LIS researchers indicated that “communication with researchers” and “web search” serve as fundamental infrastructures, maintaining high usage rates across all phases. In contrast, the usage of specialized tools like Google Scholar decreased significantly as research progressed, confirming a transition toward purpose-specific optimization of search behavior. Furthermore, the findings reveal that experiences, such as success in earlier phases or distrust in generative AI, function as “strategic filtering” in subsequent tool selection. This suggests that researchers autonomously change and refine their search strategies based on empirical feedback, adapting to increasing academic rigor.
