The Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Online Information Seeking Behavior in Postgraduate Students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Web is a source of information for students. Online information seeking behavior is related to several factors. One of these factors is the skill of critical thinking and information analysis on the web. The present study was conducted for explanting online information behavior and relation with critical thinking in postgraduate student. Methods: The present research is descriptive and has been done by survey method in 2020. The online information seeking behavior questionnaire (alpha=0.87) and the California Form B Critical Thinking Test (alpha- 0.83) were used to collect data. The study population consisted of 230 graduate students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences who participated in the study by stratified random sampling. Data analyzing was done with SPSS 26. We used correlation, linear regression, independent t-test. Results: The findings show that graduate students (mean=3.40) spend more time and effort searching the web than PhD students (mean=2.96). Master's and PhD groups scored very low on critical thinking skills (Mean Ma=7.54, PhD=7.14). There was a significant relationship between critical thinking and information seeking behavior on the web (Sig= 0.027). According to the results of linear regression, critical thinking can explain 15.7 percent of online information  behavior. Conclusion: Critical thinking relates to online information seeking behavior. Therefore, strengthening this skill can help students to better analyze the information retrieved from the web, evaluate them properly and distinguish valid information from invalid.