Welcome to the first weekly summary of information behaviour and literacy education

 

THE SHIFT FROM INFORMATIOM SYSTEMS (IS) TO INFORMATION BEHAVIOUR (IB)

Historically, information systems (IS) research concentrated on creating, optimizing, and assessing systems such as databases, search engines, and retrieval techniques. Questions such as "How can we improve system performance?" and "How do we store and retrieve data efficiently?" were frequently asked without involving the user.

However, by the late twentieth century, scientists had realized that human factors—cognitive, emotional, and behavioural—were critical to successful information seeking. This resulted in a paradigm change to Information Behaviour (IB), which asks:

·       How do individuals perceive the search process?

·       What drives information seeking?

·       What barriers do users encounter? 

Thinkers such as Dervin and Nilan encouraged this movement by criticizing the limitations of system-centric models and advocating for user-centred alternatives.
The transition from Information Systems (IS) to a user-centred approach indicates an increasing realization that technology must serve actual human needs rather than merely technical efficiency. This move favours empathy, usability, and engagement above system-centric design.

Myths About Information Behaviour & Information Seeking.

Myths about information behaviour highlight misunderstandings around how individuals seek and utilize information. Key myths include the notions that information seeking is always rational and linear, that more information leads to better decisions, and that digital natives are naturally adept at finding reliable sources. In reality, information seeking often involves non-linear processes influenced by emotional and contextual factors. Users typically face challenges such as access barriers, information anxiety, cognitive biases, and cultural influences, which can distort their search behaviours.

Brenda Dervin's work in the 1970s challenged the myth that only objective information holds value. Dervin's Sense-Making Theory posits that information seeking is an emotional and subjective process, where individuals interpret information based on personal contexts and experiences. This questions the positivist approach which considers only objective, neutral information as the gold standard.

Dervin's insights call for user-centred design in information systems, emphasizing the need for systems to support exploratory and iterative searching. Information literacy education is vital, equipping users to evaluate both objective and subjective sources critically. Additionally, contextual metadata should inform users about the origins and purposes of information, recognizing narrative and experiential data as legitimate.

Despite Dervin's influence, many systems still prioritize objective data, often overlooking the richness of subjective insights. Embracing Dervin's critique can lead to more inclusive and effective information systems, acknowledging that information encompasses meaning, context, and human experience. For additional information, you can find more information and related content on inserted link below.

                                                                     https://youtu.be/wD3FaIBHRyU?si=_tUfZUKpsmT_0Dg5