{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.024509803921568627, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0016339869281045752, 'mean_word_length': 6.203921568627451, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Information-seeking behaviour of Iranian extension managers and specialists

Introduction. We report an investigation designed to explore the information-seeking behaviour of extension managers and specialists in Iran, and to identify the factors that correlate with this behaviour. Method. A questionnaire was developed to explore information-seeking behaviour of extension managers and specialists. The questionnaire was distributed to thirty-eight public extension managers and 175 public extension specialists who work for Deputy of Extension and Farming System of Iran's Ministry of Agriculture. Analysis. Data collected were analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). Appropriate statistical procedures for description (frequencies, percent, means, and standard deviations) were used. Results. The main motivation for seeking job-related information by both public extension managers and specialists was interest in developing their own job-related information. The top three mostly used information sources by extension managers and specialists were Persian books, Persian scientific magazines, and scientific-technical reports. Concerning communication channels, interpersonal communication with colleagues, inservice training courses and scientific-technical conventions were ranked respectively as the three top communication channels used by respondents. There was a negative correlation between managers' years of extension work and their information-seeking behaviour. For specialists, a significant positive correlation was found between years of education, level of job satisfaction and information-seeking behaviour. Conclusion. Providing valuable information sources, and removing information seeking barriers, can improve information-seeking behaviour of extension specialists and managers.