IS246 Information-Seeking Behavior: An Introduction Ethelene Whitmire Assistant Professor Department of Information Studies

Definitions from Case (2002) Information – can be any difference you perceive, in your environment or within yourself. It is any aspect that you notice in the pattern of reality. Information need - is a recognition that your knowledge is inadequate to satisfy a goal that you have. Information seeking – is a conscious effort to acquire information in response to a need or a gap in your knowledge. Information behavior - encompasses information seeking as well as the totality of other unintentional or passive behaviors (such as glimpsing or encountering information), as well as purposive behaviors that do not involve seeking, such as actively avoiding information.

Brief Historical Overview Beginning of the 20 th century – focused on studies of information channels/systems such as libraries and mass media (newspapers). 1960s – focus on information needs and use by scientists and engineers -- focus on the sources and how they were used. Surveys were commonly used. Focus was on “serious” information use related to work (ex. Tasks), health, politics, etc. 1970s – focus on the person as an information user and among other interests there was a focus on gratifications in mass media research. 1980s – focus on systems like online catalogs. 1990s – focus on the Internet.

Designing & Conducting Ethnographic Research Lesson 1

What is an Ethnography? Quite literally, it means, “writing about groups of people.” More specifically, it means writing about the culture of groups of people.

Uses of Ethnography To better understand a problem To illustrate what is happening To complement quantitative data To identify new trends Basically, to help clarify a situation Examples: HIV prevention, losing weight, Anna from Rutgers

Research Design & Ethnography Research design – formal plan of action for a project. Decisions about the choice of design are primarily guided by three factors: 1. The questions the investigator is trying to answer 2. The resources (time, training, and money) 3. The characteristics, including the constraints, of the research site or setting.

Initial Tasks Framing the research questions Building the conceptual starting point, theory (literature review) Identifying characteristics of an appropriate population to study and locating the population Finding and obtaining access to an appropriate research site

Initial Tasks (Continued) What: The specific issues and research questions related to the problem area Why: The reasons or rational for focusing on this area Where: The place or site where the study can be conducted With Whom: The categories of people with whom the problem could best be studied When: The time span needed to conduct the study How: The way in which the information can be located and collected Who: Which people can provide access to the site, people, or sources for information needed to answer the question.

Subsequent Tasks Develop a data collection plan Design appropriate data collection methods Establish analytic procedures Develop ways of protecting the identity of research participants and the confidentiality of the information they provide and for treating them ethically Establish guidelines and procedures for interpretation, dissemination, and utilization of results

Data Collection Methods Observation Tests and repeated measures Population or sample survey Ethnographic interview Content analysis of secondary text or visual data Focus group interviews Spatial mapping, etc. Importance of Triangulation

Qualities of a Good Ethnographer (Characteristics) Adventurous Resourceful Enthusiastic Self-motivated Trustworthy Risk-taking Curious Sociable

Qualities of a Good Ethnographer (Skills) Observant Communicative Thinks conceptually Cognizant of cultural issues and behavior Reportorial Remembers well Separates strict observation from personal bias or opinion Works well with a team