The Role of Paywalls in Online Information-Seeking Behavior: A Review of Literature

This poster presents the first phase of a study into the effect of paywalls on the online information-seeking behavior of Canadian midwives. Using a narrative review approach, theauthorshave reviewed and synthesized the literature onthe effect of paywalls on information-seeking behavior.Important questions were raised about institutions and associations paying for access on behalf of their members. In addition, suggestions are made on the gaps that need to be filled, such as(a) a need to examine how the different types of paywall configurationsaffect online information-seeking behavior; (b) a need for more interviews and surveys to better understand the phenomenon;and (c) a need to examine the rolepaywalls play in aspects of online information-seeking behaviorotherthan the number of visits, downloads and article view times.