Validity and reliability of factors causing information-seeking anxiety during information-seeking behaviors

Purpose This study aims to define a set of assumptions for testing the four factors tested statistically to determine information-seeking anxiety based on quantitative data. Design/methodology/approach The developed questionnaire was distributed among graduate university students in Zhenjiang City to find and confirm the factor affecting information-seeking anxiety. The exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis technique has been applied to the sample data set of 329 sample size. Jamovi and SPSS, statistical analysis software, were used to determine the study validity indices. Findings This study shows that thematic anxiety, quality of resources anxiety, information communication technology anxiety and library anxiety have a significant effect on information-seeking anxiety. Research limitations/implications This study highlights the four factors, i.e. library anxiety, information and communication technology (ICT) anxiety, thematic anxiety and the quality of resources cause information-seeking anxiety among graduate students. Originality/value In this age of the digital world, information-seeking anxiety plays a vital role in the vicious circle of seeking behavior. Therefore, to break through the vicious loop of seeking behavior with only information-seeking anxiety as a cure, concentrate on information-seeking anxiety. This study found that thematic anxiety, ICT anxiety, library anxiety and quality of resources anxiety significantly affect information-seeking anxiety.