Exploring Information Seeking and PIM Practices of Early-Career Researchers: Insights into Navigating Academic Transitions

This study represents the initial phase of a broader investigation into the significance of information seeking and personal information management (PIM) practices during life transitions. It focuses on early-career researchers who experience multiple academic transitions and aims to identify the information practices they use and their role in promoting successful life transitions. To achieve this goal, in-depth semi-structured interviews were held with 15 early-career researchers who recently completed their PhDs or graduated. Findings suggest that the participants relied on iterative cycles of various information seeking and validation practices to transition between positions and academic institutions, which improved their knowledge about the transition and reduced uncertainty. Once a network of transition-related information was established, participants began utilizing PIM practices to organize their information and plan for the transition, thereby enhancing their sense of control over their information and maintaining it over the long term in an unstable environment. The study underscores the importance of information practices during life transitions and recommends interventions such as institutional support and information skills training programs to assist early-career researchers in challenging transitions. The subsequent study will build upon these findings to further examine the role of information behavior in facilitating life transitions.