Purpose - This study aims to investigate patterns of information use among undergraduate engineers as they progress through their academic programs. The primary objective was to discern how second and fourth-year students differ in their use of different types of information while performing specific tasks, namely, conducting labs, composing reports and undertaking projects. Design/methodology/approach - The research used an online questionnaire to collect data, focusing on the comparative analysis of second and fourth-year engineering students' information use. The analytical framework comprised a chi-square test, residual analysis and exploratory data analysis, for evaluating statistical significance and identifying trends overtime.<br /> Findings - The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference in information use between second and fourth year undergraduates. Notably, fourth year students exhibited a preference for disciplinary genres, such as journal articles, patents and technical reports. This coincided with a decline in fourth year students' use of educational genres, including textbooks and instructors' handouts, notes and slides. These shifts in information use were observed consistently across all three tasks.<br /> Originality/value - The uniqueness of the study resides in its innovative approach to exploring information use by investigating the relationship between genres and tasks over the course of students' academic programs. The research introduces a novel approach for visualizing changes in information use. By describing the evolving preferences of undergraduate students from novice to emerging professional, this study contributes valuable insights into the nuanced ways in which information is used throughout the levels of engineering education.
