Critical Analysis of Information Seeking Behavior Models and Their Applicability to Users of Military Colleges in India

सार

Information seeking behaviour (ISB) has been a central area of inquiry within library and information science, communication studies, and behavioural psychology. It examines how individuals recognize their information needs, search for information, and utilize it effectively. This critical review paper explores the major models of ISB, including Wilson’s model (1981, 1999), Ellis’s model (1989), Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process (1991), Krikelas’s model (1983), and Leckie’s model (1996), and evaluates their applicability to users of Indian military colleges. The study critically analyses the strengths, limitations, and contextual suitability of each model in understanding the structured, hierarchical, and security-sensitive information environment characteristic of military academic settings. The paper identifies gaps in conventional ISB frameworks when applied to military education institutions, where users’ information behaviour is influenced by command hierarchies, restricted access protocols, and mission-oriented learning objectives. A comparative assessment highlights the need for a hybrid or adapted ISB model tailored for military contexts that integrates behavioural, situational, and technological variables. Furthermore, this paper proposes a synthesized analytical framework for future research and educational policy formulation, emphasizing digital literacy, secure information systems, and decision-centric learning. The findings aim to advance the theoretical understanding of information seeking behaviour in specialized domains, contributing to both academic discourse and institutional practice in the Indian defense education ecosystem.