An Integrated Human Information Behavior Research Framework for Information Studies (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction, 2011
Recent trends in researching Information Behaviour in organisations show that the initial focus on technology has shifted to cognitive methods that take the individual into account, but more recently there has been a move to the social sciences approach. Literature shows that this approach has been informative but rather theoretic as there has been limited work using this approach to handle information problems in organisations. There is a need to develop and test theories to help understand Information Behaviour in organisations in a social science context that gives direct benefits to the organisation. It is useful to view organisations as complex social networks of interactions, where importance is put on the relationships between people in the organisations, as well as on the individual actor. A need exists to evaluate and connect insights from social sciences communities of practice, and complexity theory. This paper explores insights from these theories and develops a conceptu...
Contextualizing Information Behavior: A Methodological Approach
Journal of Critical Library and Information Studies, 2017
Building on recent developments in information behavior theory and research, this paper explores the role of context in methodological approaches to the investigation of everyday information behavior. In particular, the author examines the implicit role of Western constructs in existing models and theories of information behavior, and illustrates how a more contextually responsive method for investigating information behavior may provide more robust and accurate indices of how individuals interact with information in their everyday lives in diverse contexts. The value of a contextualised understanding of information behavior is demonstrated by drawing on two studies examining the role of contextual factors in everyday information behavior in non-Western societies. In doing so the author identifies several factors with considerable contextual variation that play a strong role in how individuals need, seek, and use information in their daily lives, particularly social and cultural values. The author also demonstrates the value in further exploring this contextual variation in information behavior research, supported by relevant theoretical and philosophical considerations. The resulting information behavior research methodology is aimed at identifying the contextual factors present in everyday information behavior, which may enable information scientists to better understand variation in information behavior and develop more robust tools for investigating information behavior in diverse communities. I conclude by suggesting that the implementation of this method may also lead to better understanding of the relationship between information practices and
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A proposed general model of information behaviour
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Presents a critical description of Wilson's (1996) global model of information behaviour and proposes major modification on the basis of research into information behaviour of managers, conducted in Poland. The theoretical analysis and research results suggest that Wilson's model has certain imperfections, both in its conceptual content, and in graphical presentation. The model, for example, cannot be used to describe managers' information behaviour, since managers basically are not the end users of external from organization or computerized information services, and they acquire information mainly through various intermediaries. Therefore, the model cannot be considered as a general model, applicable to every category of information users. The proposed new model encompasses the main concepts of Wilson's model, such as: person-in-context, three categories of intervening variables (individual, social and environmental), activating mechanisms, cyclic character of information behaviours, and the adoption of a multidisciplinary approach to explain them. However, the new model introduces several changes. They include: 1. identification of 'context' with the intervening variables; 2. immersion of the chain of information behaviour in the 'context', to indicate that the context variables influence behaviour at all stages of the process (identification of needs, looking for information, processing and using it); 3. stress is put on the fact that the activating mechanisms also can occur at all stages of the information acquisition process; 4. introduction of two basic strategies of looking for information: personally and/or using various intermediaries.
1999
This paper presents an evolving framework of human information behavior. The framework emerges from theories and empirical studies from a variety of research traditions, including information science, communication, sociology and psychology, that inform our understanding of human information behavior. First, fundamental concepts, such as context, situation, and social networks, are discussed. Using these concepts, a series of propositions that strive to elucidate, that is, provide a framework for exploring, human information behavior are proposed. Information human information behavior, including information exploration, seeking, filtering, use, and communication, are included (to varying degrees) in the framework. The framework also incorporates cognitive, social, and system perspectives. A key concept in the framework is the notion of an "information horizon." Within any context and situation is an "information horizon" in which individuals can act. Information horizons, which may consist of a variety of information resources, are determined socially and individually, and may be conceptualized as densely populated solution spaces. In a densely populated solution space, many solutions are assumed, and the information retrieval problem expands from determining the most efficient path to the best solution, to determining how to make possible solutions visible --to an individual(s) and to other information resources.
The Trends in Information Behavior Research, 2000-2016: The Emergence of New Topical Areas
Journal of the Korean Biblia Society for Library and Information Science, 2017
Information behavior is an important area of research in library and information science (LIS) that has evolved over the last 75 years. The aim of this study is to investigate the recent trends of information behavior research by providing insights into emerging topical areas within information behavior. To conduct this study, the bibliographic data from Scopus was used, and the trends of information behavior were traced by using variations of key terms used in information behavior research, such as " information behavior " , " information seeking behavior " , and " information needs. " In addition, the trends were analyzed in terms of content words in the title, highly cited journal articles, disciplinary categories, and author keywords. Information behavior research has its roots in LIS, but the findings of the study reveal that information behavior has expanded to other disciplines by intersecting a variety of topical areas. In particular, this study showed that information behavior in the health/medicine domain has become a predominant emerging topical area of research. In order to enhance our understanding of complex human behavior, future research should focus more on interdisciplinary aspects by measuring the scope of information behavior.
Exploring Information Use Behavior in the Context of Knowledge Construction
2015
The study focuses on a task-driven context to investigate two issues, including ＂informants' information use behavior in a learning context＂ and ＂how the knowledge structure has changed after utilizing the information＂. Qualitative methods were employed in this study, including observation, in-depth interview, and document analysis. One of the authors entered the setting as an observer-as-participant to observe the interaction between the lecturer and participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to better understand informants' information use behavior and their cognition toward major concepts of the learning topic. Knowledge construction commenced with evaluating learning tasks assigned by lecturer, examining knowledge structure, deciding the ways of processing information, and then putting into action. During the process, the participants used information in different manners, including browsing, examining, re-examining, marking up, extracting, translating, reco...