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  • Publication
    For the win! Information needs in discourse of board gamers’ online communities
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Mierzecka, Anna; Łączyński, Marcin
    As an essential part of the human experience with numerous social benefits, serious leisure is the phenomenon that has received attention in information behaviour research. Our study aims to contribute to this field by exploring board gamers’ communities’ information practices on social media sites. In our research, we adopted collectivist approaches, and the empirical part of the study was conducted as a quantitative content analysis. We examined the three most active board game Facebook groups, one for each language: English, French and Polish. The final dataset included N=764 posts. Each post from the sample was described with 47 variables, 23 of which were based upon the codebook of question topics. The information needs expressed in the form of the online questions were in overwhelming part related to the purchase intentions, less frequently concerned tactic knowledge. The distribution of replies between topics and groups in a different language showed visible differences between each group. Although this type of hobby includes both collectors’ and practitioners’ practices, the information presented in online discourse is dominated by those specific to collectors. Both information-seeking and sharing activities proved that board gamers’ online communities form a very information-rich social world.
  • Publication
    What's interrupting your search? A diary study of everyday mobile search interruptions
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Lu, Mengjia; Harvey, Morgan; Hoeber, Orland
    Web search is a common activity in a mobile context. However, the nature of performing tasks in a mobile environment means there is the risk interruption. While the effects of interruptions on mobile search have been studied in recent years, the nature of such interruptions occurring in real-world mobile settings have not. Using a diary study approach, we collected data from 20 participants on the everyday interruptions they faced conducting mobile web searches over a 10-day period. We used inductive open coding to categorise the nature of the interruptions assigning each interruption to a category/sub-category combination. We then used a deductive coding approach to classify each interruption as being either internally or externally-induced; and mobile or non mobile-specific. We found a broad range of interruptions, which we have organised into an extensive taxonomy. Further, a substantial proportion of the interruptions are externally-induced and more than half are unique to mobile contexts. The empirical evidence of the nature of mobile search interruptions in our findings provide insight into the complex environment of mobile search, information upon which to base future mobile search studies (e.g., surveys, controlled laboratory studies), and motivation for the study of search interface designs that can help mitigate the effects of such interruptions.
  • Publication
    Is anybody in there?: Towards a model of affect and trust in human – AI information interactions
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Pawlick-Potts, Danica
    Advancements in search engines that utilize machine learning increase the likelihood that users will perceive these systems as worthy of trust. The nature and implications of trust in the context of algorithmic systems that utilize machine learning is examined and the resulting conception of trust is modelled. While current artificial intelligence does not meet the requirements of moral autonomy necessary to be considered trustworthy, people may still engage in misplaced trust based on the perception of moral autonomy. Users who place their trust in algorithmic systems limit their critical engagement with, and assessment of, the information interaction. A preliminary high-level model of trust’s role in information interactions adapting Ingwersen and Jarvelin’s Integrative Model for Interactive Information Seeking and Retrieval is proposed using the Google search engine as an example. We need to recognize that is it possible for users to react to information systems in a social manner that may lead to the formation of trust attitudes. As information professionals we want to develop interventions that will encourage users to stay critically engaged with their interactions with information systems, even when they perceive them to be autonomous.
  • Publication
    Student experience of digital learning tools: information literacy training in higher education
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Skov, Mette; Svarre, Tanja; Lykke, Marianne
    The paper presents a qualitative study of how students in higher education experience the use of digital learning objects as part of information literacy training. The study is inspired by the phenomenographical method and take a second-order perspective asking how students experience information literacy training and digital learning tools. The study builds on seven focus-group interviews with a total of 29 students from law, engineering, and nursing. The first part of the analysis presents results on students’ experience of the digital learning tools across the cases with focus on student motivation. The second part of the analysis focuses on the roles of the different actors in information literacy building. The analysis illustrates how the use of digital learning tools and face-to-face information literacy training is deeply related to the roles of the different actors taking part in the information literacy practice. The academic librarian is almost invisible to the students in two of the three cases, but student interaction with the digital learning tools promote visibility. The findings confirm related research on the importance of integrating information literacy training into curriculum and nuances our understanding of how students experience information literacy training and digital learning tools.
  • Publication
    Information behaviour videos on YouTube: an exploratory content analysis, case study of INFIDEOS, and call to action
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Hartel, Jenna
    How do landmark concepts of information behaviour appear as videos on YouTube? What do these multimedia artifacts, altogether, suggest about the information behaviour specialty? What might ideal versions of such videos be like? To create an empirical starting point for answering these timely questions, an exploratory content analysis was performed on a sample of 20 educational videos found on YouTube, focusing upon three big ideas of information behaviour: the Information Search Process (Kuhlthau, 1991), Sense-Making (Dervin, 1983) and Berrypicking (Bates, 1989). A coding frame was created with 23 categories and associated subcategories. SurveyMonkey was used to capture, tabulate and present the data. Due to space limitations, not all categories are included in the findings, which are reported as themes with commentary. YouTube’s information behaviour offerings are: cluttered by look-alike videos; uneven in coverage; dominated by librarians and students; and short on scholarly authority. Though singular, featured concepts can be treated thoroughly, most videos have a narrow focus; no scholarly apparatus; and disregard information behaviour’s legacy and culture. Following the content analysis, the author’s YouTube channel of Information Science videos, INFIDEOS, is profiled with attention to its information behaviour resources. Throughout, general video-making strategies are provided.
  • Publication
    'I’m just not sure': the persistence of uncertainty in the information seeking of undergraduate students with dyslexia
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Beveridge, Lynne; MacFarlane, Andrew; Makri, Stephann
    As information seeking progresses, it is expected feelings of uncertainty surrounding, for example, the information need, what information will be useful to satisfy the need and how well the need has been satisfied will shift towards confidence and clarity. The six corollaries offered by Kuhlthau outline and explain areas where this shift can happen. However, does it happen for all groups of information-seekers? Undergraduate students with dyslexia often have lower information seeking-related self-efficacy than their peers and this can result in uncertainty persisting throughout information seeking. Retrospective naturalistic think aloud observations were held with 20 undergraduate students with dyslexia. After looking for information for one of their (self-chosen) assignments, participants were invited to explore their thoughts, feelings and actions with the researcher while watching a screen recording of their information seeking session. First, an inductive reflexive Thematic Analysis was conducted which revealed self-efficacy to be a key influence in the information seeking behaviour of undergraduate students with dyslexia. To investigate this further, a dedicated deductive analysis was conducted leveraging Kuhlthau’s six corollaries. The expected shift away from uncertainty towards clarity and confidence was found to be either delayed, disrupted or prevented by participants’ low self-efficacy surrounding selecting and spelling keywords and reading, interpreting and evaluating information online. Uncertainty persisted throughout information seeking and was rarely reduced or resolved. Key areas for additional support during information seeking for this user group are identified, including keyword selection and spelling, accurate reading and interpretation and confident evaluation of online information.
  • Publication
    Effective factors influencing individual’s shared health decision making
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Ghorbanian Zolbin, Maedeh; Han, Shengnan; Nikou, Shahrokh
    This paper investigates the effects of information avoidance, information overload, health literacy on individuals’ shared health decision making. A research model is proposed based on sound theoretical background. Data from 155 respondents was collected via an online survey. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyse the data. The findings suggest that information overload and information avoidance both exhibit negative effects on an individual’s shared health decision making behaviour, while health literary possess positive effects. We also find that information avoidance has a positive impact on information avoidance. Moreover, health literacy is negatively related to both information overload and information avoidance. The paper enhances both theoretical and empirical understanding of the effects of individuals’ health literacy, information overload and information avoidance on their shared health decision making behaviour. The results indicate that sufficient health literacy enables individuals to engage in their health decision making process and sharing their concerns with their physicians. However, information overload and information avoidance trigger negative effects which lead to individuals less involved in shared health decision making. Our results advocate more efforts to improve individual health literary as the means to mitigate the negative effects of information overload and information avoidance towards shared health decision making.
  • Publication
    The good, the bad, and the notable: COVID-19 information experiences
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Singh, Rajesh
    This study explores the COVID-19 information experiences of people at the outbreak of the pandemic in the United States. The research data from 1,979 participants was collected through an online qualitative survey. A phenomenological approach was utilised to gain a deeper understanding of the COVID-19 information experiences. Cross tabulation was also used; however, the outcome is primarily qualitative.Results. Three types of information experiences were identified, i.e., good, bad, and notable. The good information experiences indicated people’s appreciation for factual information, state government or local news, and information about the collective well-being of people. The bad information experiences illustrated people’s concerns about misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories, information coming from President Trump and his administration, health-related information, and information politics. The notable information experiences highlighted people’s positive outlook on information and their concerns about information uncertainty, the politics of information, and coronaphobia. Findings suggest that information can significantly influence people’s feelings, moods, emotions, and experiences in polarising ways, and highlights implications for managing people’s well-being in times of mass misinformation and fake news.
  • Publication
    Exploration of students’ information behaviour and experience of assignment completion process
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Liu, Chang; Wang, Xinyue
    Assignments play an important role in consolidating knowledge for university students. Understanding students’ information behaviour and experience in this type of work task, i.e., students’ assignments, would be beneficial to the design of learning platforms or search systems to better support effective and efficient information behaviours. A 37-day online observation of 14 university students in China, working on one assignment through client logging, combined with questionnaires and interviews were conducted in this study. This study used descriptive analysis to describe students’ information behaviours and experiences during the assignment completion processes at different stages. According to the proportion of efforts devoted to seeking information and working for the assignment in four evenly distributed periods, the students could be divided into four time-allocation types, namely 'Ninjas', 'Turtles', 'Time wasters' and 'Pursuers'. Different types of students had different information behaviours and experiences during assignment completion process. When applying Information Seeking Process model to analysis students’ information behaviours for the assignment completion, it is necessary to combine the time context and examine how each time allocation type of students would allocate their information seeking effort in task completion behaviours.
  • Publication
    Information-seeking behaviours of opinion leaders
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Lauzon, Robb Conrad
    This paper explores the information-seeking behaviours of opinion leaders for the purpose of better communicating attributes of innovations to this group of individuals. Information-seeking is an important concept for diffusion of innovations theory. This study contributes towards an understanding of information-seeking behaviour in the diffusion of innovations. Interviews were conducted with nine participants who were recruited largely from their involvement in civic life. Intensive interviews generated hours of interview material that was used by the author for subsequent analysis. Critical Discourse Analysis enabled the author to look at the social structures that were revealed in their responses to the interview protocol. These interviews were coded by hand until themes were reduced to their essence. Three technics were identified as aiding opinion leaders in their information seeking endeavours. First, identification of gatekeepers granted opinion leaders access to information. Second, a knowledge of relevant publications afforded them confidence in their dealings with information. Third, sophisticated information-seeking behaviours allow opinion leaders to sift through the useful and less than useful information they come across in their searches. These technics serve the opinion leader in their relationship to all facets of contemporary everyday life.
  • Publication
    Factors influencing Lithuanian researchers’ use of open access repositories as a publishing channel
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Macevičiūtė, Elena; Kepalienė, Fausta
    The affordances of repositories for scientific information are emphasized in various international and national governmental and research financing documents. However, the researchers do not upload their full-text publications into the repositories as intensively as it is expected. The aim of the paper is to establish which factors and to what extent affect the intention of Lithuanian researchers to use open access repositories as a publication channel. The model of the theory of planned behaviour was employed to better understand the intentions of Lithuanian researchers to deposit their publications to research repositories. A representative questionnaire survey was carried out to collect the data. The 545 respondents of the survey were the Lithuanian researchers who have a doctoral degree and work at Lithuanian state universities or state research institutes. The obtained data were analysed using statistical analysis (correlation). The connections between intention to submit publications to open access repositories and attitudes, perceived norm, perceived control, past open access publishing behaviour, occupational and demographic characteristics were analysed. The study has identified the factors affecting the open access publishing behaviour of Lithuanian researchers and the strength of their influence with regard to it. It was found that the most significant factors which affect Lithuanian researchers’ intention to submit their publications to repositories are perceived norm, perceived control and past open access publishing behaviour. The age and seniority of researchers are also significant. Lithuanian researchers differ from the general context of open access publishing behaviour in that the influence of norms on the intention to submit publications to open access repositories is greater than that of researchers in other countries, and the attitudes, although positive, are less significant. The remaining factors are affecting their publishing behaviour similarly as in the studies from other countries. Lithuanian researchers representing social sciences and humanities are slightly more likely to submit publications to the repositories than researchers representing the natural science, medicine and technology.
  • Publication
    Information practices in coopetition context: the case of a large video game company
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Du Hommet, Joanne; Ihadjadene, Madjid; Grivel, Luc
    Studies on the information practices in a cooperative context are rare. Yet, issues of access, sharing or retention of information are crucial. This study investigates how professionals in a global digital entertainment company define their information source horizon and the factors that influence them. Using Savolainen’s information horizon methodology, we conducted an exploratory study based on interviews organised at the Montreal studio during which our 29 participants had to place their sources of information on mind maps.Analysis. Quantitative data was collected and analysed on participants' preferences for information sources. We also employed grounded theory techniques to review our interview transcripts using NVivo software. We propose a new categorisation of sources and confirm the typology of Savolainen’s criteria. The results revealed that coopetition and technological contexts shaped information practices of gameworkers. The results of our study on the informational practices of gameworkers could find application in strategic information and knowledge management.
  • Publication
    Elicitation of requirements for innovative visual patent retrieval based on interviews with experts
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Zellmer, Johanna; Elbeshausen, Stefanie; Womser-Hacker, Christa
    Patent searching is a complex task and is mainly performed by experts in the field. Research shows that the integration of drawings into the search process is considered useful by experts and should therefore play a more important role in patent retrieval. In this study, experts were interviewed to find out when and in what form patent drawings should be integrated into the search process. The study combines qualitative data analysis and techniques from requirements engineering resulting in the context sensitive method called Q-rEx.Analysis. The interviews were analysed with a mixed form of deductive and inductive category formation and combined with standards of patent retrieval systems. Experts want patent drawings to be more integrated in the search process to better analyse the relevance of patents. Therefore, in this study, requirements for innovative visual patent retrieval have been derived from actual user needs. The method presented in this study contributes to transparent and comprehensible user-centred elicitation of requirements regarding innovative visual patent retrieval. Not only the method needs further testing but also the integration of the requirements must be evaluated in additional user research.
  • Publication
    Capturing career information use in everyday life: introducing the CIEL conceptual framework
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Milosheva, Marina; Hall, Hazel; Robertson, Peter; Cruickshank, Peter
    Everyday career information use is not fully addressed by extant theories, models and frameworks. In this paper, a conceptual framework of career information behaviour and career information literacy in everyday life is presented. Over the course of 2021, a literature review of everyday life career information use was completed. As part of this review, a search for boundary objects was performed, and thematically similar conceptual contributions were mapped. An analysis of the integral components of ten theories, models and frameworks relating to information behaviour, information literacy, information practice and career development was performed with a view towards the development of a conceptual framework.Results. A conceptual framework consisting of two key components – topography and way of life – was devised following analysis. The framework provides insight into the means by which individuals experience career information in everyday life, and the means by which they navigate career information environments. The conceptual framework presented in this paper is applicable to the development of novel career information literacy theories, models or frameworks, or the modification of extant conceptualisations.
  • Publication
    The sound of music: from increased personalization to therapeutic values
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Cáceres, Ileana Sofía Inés; Ghosh, Souvick
    Music providers like Spotify leverage music recommendation systems to connect users with relevant music. Based on content-based and collaborative-filtering statistical methods, these machine learning algorithms quantify user-song probabilities and present the highest-ranked songs. However, most music providers do not fully address their users’ music seeking and retrieval needs. Likewise, the fields of Recommender Systems (RecSys), Music Recommendation Systems (MRS) and Music Information Retrieval (MIR) remain disconnected from real-world use cases of music seeking. In this conceptual paper, we review the literature of the RecSys, MRS, MIR and Music Therapy (MT) academic fields. We discuss trends towards greater user control and personalization in the MRS and MIR fields and the connections between MT and positive health outcomes such as reductions in stress, anxiety and heart rate.Analysis. We argue that greater control and visibility into the characteristics of songs and recommended items can generate positive downstream benefits. We recommend features that empower users to better seek, find, store, retrieve and learn from their musical catalogs. We suggest design enhancements that recognize music’s wider psychological and physiological benefits and create opportunities to build domain knowledge. Unlocking music’s myriad benefits through the enhancements proposed would catalyze positive outcomes for business stakeholders, users and society.
  • Publication
    'I learn each day.' The informational lifeworld of dog and cat guardians in New Zealand
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Solhjoo, Niloofar; Krtalić, Maja; Goulding, Anne
    Recognising the importance of information in understanding and living with companion animals, this paper investigates cat and dog guardians’ opinions on how they learn new things and update themselves. It identifies a range of information, practices, and contexts within their everyday life. An anonymous online survey consisting of close-ended and open-ended questions was distributed to cat and dog guardians in New Zealand between October and December 2021. Response frequencies and descriptive statistics of quantitative data were generated. The qualitative data were open-coded with an information experience lens to identify the categories of information forms and practices. Quantitative data indicate personal experiences and memories of guardians (75%), and casual conversations with other guardians (73%) as the most common resources for learning, after experts (e.g. veterinarians) (93%). Qualitative data analysis categorized these as two main themes of external and internal forms of information. External information consisted of social information in verbal and nonverbal communication with other humans and animals, recorded information in digital and physical mediums, and embedded information held in artifacts and animals’ body. Internal information related to guardians’ memory and personal knowledge (cognitive information), values and emotions (affective information), and bodily feelings and subjective interpretation of their senses (embodied information). The informational lifeworld of the participants was made of their external interactions and internal values, which appears as interwoven concepts in their daily lives with dogs and cats.
  • Publication
    ‘Confused, scared, hopeless, unsure’: teens looking for information about COVID-19
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Bowler, Leanne
    Presents findings from an online questionnaire investigating teens’ information-seeking about COVID-19.Methods. Online questionnaire completed by 26 teens, ages 15 to 19 years, living in Brooklyn, New York, in June 2020. Responses include quantitative data (ranking and checklists) and qualitative data (free writing). The questionnaire explored information themes in relation to COVID-19, such as information sources and platforms, credibility and disinformation, teens’ roles in information intermediation, affective aspects of their information behaviour, as well as what would have helped teens find COVID-19 information. Teens experienced anxiety as they looked for reliable information about COVID-19. They served as their family’s language brokers and technology experts, taking on the responsibilities of information intermediator. Teens used social media platforms and legacy media as information sources. Nevertheless, teens indicated a wish for institutional support and guidance from governments (municipal, state, federal) and schools. Libraries were not an information source. The results of this study have implications for research into teen mental health in relation to the COVID-19 global pandemic, as well as reframing the meaning of ‘everyday life information seeking’ during a time of crisis, when everyday life is not normal.
  • Publication
    Socially-distant fasting: information practices of young Muslims during pandemic
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Caidi, Nadia; Ekmekcioglu, Cansu; Jamali, Rojin; Chandra, Priyank
    The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to reimagine how they engage in spiritual and religious activities. This paper presents an analysis of the information practices of young Muslims during Ramadan, with a focus on their social, spiritual and COVID-related needs and strategies. Our qualitative approach entailed semi-structured interviews with 22 self-identified Muslims from across the Muslim spectrum. They were asked about their experiences with completing Ramadan under pandemic, including the nature of information accessed and shared as part of the fasting rituals. Interviews were transcribed, and open coding was used to categorize the data into themes. The thematic analysis was conducted through an iterative process. Our findings pointed to the differing affective states of the young Muslims who observed the fast under COVID. Participants also hinted at the loss of communal practices and rituals and the emergence of new habits and coping strategies (many informational in nature). Social and emotional support were particularly critical to overcoming the challenges. This study contributes to a better understanding of the intersection between information activities and spiritual/religious practices. The findings also have theoretical and practical implications for the role of information and technology in times of crisis.
  • Publication
    Investigating the influences of context on the information seeking behaviour of first-generation students
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Du Toit, Gertruida Elizabeth; Du Preez, Madely; Meyer, Hester
    This paper reports on a qualitative study investigating the information seeking behaviour of first-generation students enrolled at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Humanities’ Mastering Academic and Professional Skills programme. The purpose is to determine the way in which their socio-economic situations influenced their ability to solve information problems. The target population come from low-income families with low social and cultural capacity in their home environment. A qualitative phenomenological research approach was followed. A purposive convenience sample was drawn from the target population. A total of 17 students participated in the study. Qualitative data analysis procedures were used with inductive reasoning as an open-ended approach. The data were collected using interviews with an open- and close-ended interview schedule. Both contextual (environmental) and personal experiences influence the information seeking behaviour of first-generation students. Information literacy as an intervention served as a catalyst to change the students’ information seeking behaviour. An understanding of first-generation students’ information seeking behaviour can provide insights for librarians on the way in which to meet these students’ information needs.
  • Publication
    The influence of users' Dark Triad on knowledge contribution behaviour on social Q&A sites
    (Philosophische Fakultät) Wang, Lin; Liu, Yajing; Han, Wenjun; Qiu, Junping
    The users' knowledge contribution behavior is the driving force for the sustainable development of the social Q&A sites. This kind of user behavior is affected by various factors, among which users' personality traits are the prominent ones. The dark triad is a theory on the dark side of personality. This article explores the influence and mechanism of users' dark triad on their knowledge contribution in social Q&A sites. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 301 users with experience in social Q&A sites. The survey data were then analyzed by hierarchical regression and Bootstrap analysis. The dark triad significantly affects knowledge contribution on social Q & A sites. Online self-disclosure plays a completely mediating role in the relationship between the dark triad and knowledge contribution. The relational psychological contract has a moderating role between online self-disclosure and knowledge contribution. This study argues that the dark triad has a positive effect on knowledge contribution behavior in socialized Q&A communities by constructing a model of mediated effects that are moderated. The dark triad shows its altruistic side in the context of social Q&A sites. The role of the dark triad in different knowledge-intensive contexts should be viewed dialectically in future research. Based on these findings, we put forward some suggestions for encouraging users' knowledge contribution behavior in the social media context.