The Use of Technical Literature by Industrial Technologists

A study was made of the role of scientific information in the work of a sample of technologists in the British electrical and electronics industry. Interviews lasting up to one hour each were conducted with the people in the sample, using a standard set of questions. The sample consisted of 1082 people in 127 establishments. The term ``technologist´´ covered all persons engaged in research, all those with technical qualifications, and all those responsible for planning development work. Among the findings are that the principal role of the literature to the people studied is to supply useful information which is not being deliberately sought by the reader. Its role as a references source is less significant.