Comportamento informacional humano em instituições universitárias: uma análise da ansiedade informacional do profissional de Secretariado Executivo da Ufba

Abstract

Technological development and broad access to information have become an obstacle in today's society, due to the volume of information produced and the limited time available for accessing and retrieving this content. The excess of information associated with ease of access accompanies individuals with concerns, uncertainties and frustrations. Information anxiety is caused by the gap that exists when information does not reveal enough to us to understand. The secretarial profession has been transformed over the years, following the development and complexities of society. These transformations require professionals capable of facing this new reality. From the understanding of information anxiety engendered in human informational behavior, aiming at strategic and effective performance in the performance of the UFBA Executive Secretariat, the following question arises: how informational anxiety influences the informational behavior of UFBA Executive Secretariat professionals in the fulfillment of their work activities? To answer the question at hand, the main objective of this research was structured: to evaluate how information anxiety influences the information behavior of Executive Secretariat professionals within the scope of university institutions; the secondary objectives correspond to: (a) mapping the activities carried out by the professionals analyzed and the possible factors that interfere with work performance; (b) categorize elements of information anxiety associated with the information behavior of Executive Secretariat professionals; (c) identify behavioral strategies for coping with informational anxiety among Executive Secretaries. The theoretical framework contributed with the foundations for answering the starting question, in addition to supporting the entire proposed argument. To meet the determined objectives, the methodological procedures section presented the research design, as well as the data collection techniques and instrument (questionnaire), with a descriptive research level and monographic procedure method (case study). The results showed that: the executive secretarial professionals investigated have difficulty searching and locating information in the institution due to the excess of information they receive, resulting in cognitive overload and lack of focus on essential tasks; present symptoms and signs of informational anxiety caused, especially by the excess of information demanded by their work activities; informational anxiety makes decision-making difficult, leading to hesitations, insecurities and postponements; present coping strategies in their work environment to deal with anxiety. Therefore, it was concluded that these unfavorable impacts of anxiety on the information behavior of secretaries have consequences for the performance and efficiency of work activities at the university institution.