Chapter 9: Information Behavior
Chapter 9 of this textbook is a complete rundown of Information behavior. Very quickly we are provided with a nice summarization of the two connotations. “the many ways in which human beings with information . . . [and also] . . . a subdiscipline [of library and information science] that engages in a wide range of types of research conducted in order to understand the human relationship to information” (188). The idea of information behavior can be tied to two concepts. Information use and information need.
Information “theories” and “models” are very difficult distinguish, so they are considered as one. Theories are “qualitative descriptions and explanations” and models are “generally rather simple ‘conceptual models’” such as diagrams and flow charts. (192) They are very different than mathematical models used in economics and physical or computer models used by architects. “Their aim is to show the factors involved in information behavior, and how they relate to one another, to depict the stages and processes of information seeking and use, and sometimes to illustrate a person’s though processes and changing cognitive state as they deal with information (Wilson, 2010; Jarvelin and Wilson, 2003) “ [193].
Models
Descriptive models: List the factors and activities involved in the aspects of information behavior being considered. Represented graphically or as lists.
Behavior Model: 8 features of behavior in information seeking:
• Starting- activities at the start of information seeking
• Chaining- following references, citations, etc.
• Browsing- scanning areas of interest
• Differentiating- filtering material by source and quality
• Monitoring- keeping up to date by checking sources regularly
• Extracting- systematically working through a source g. Verifying- checking accuracy of information
• Ending- concluding steps
Process Models: Usually represented as a flowchart or process diagram and show the steps or stages in information seeking.
Cognitive Models: Also called cognitive process, they add thoughts and motivations of people to the actions and entities show in process models. The best known cognitive model is typically referred to as Wilson’s “expanded model” (196).
Complex Models: These models are much more elaborate than the others, giving to their name “complex models”. They “. . . introduce a greater degree of context and an increased number of perspectives, and are typically non-linear or multidirectional, rather than having a single sequence of steps” (197). Alan Foster devised a model that depicts the non-linear nature of information defined as three ‘contexts of interaction’ for the information seeker: external (e.g. the social or organizational setting); internal (e.g. feeling and thoughts), and their cognitive approach (e.g. openness). These three contexts of interaction influence three ‘core processes’: opening (e.g. browsing); orientation (e.g. problem definition); and consolidation (e.g. verifying).

Questions
1. Out of the models described above, which model do you seem to use the most? (please give examples)
2. Within those same models, which do you believe you will be forced to use the most or will be the most important or prominent in your future (or current) field of work or study? (Please give examples)

Chapter 9 Information Behavior
Information behavior describes “the many ways in which human beings interact with information” as told by Bates. It is the way people search and use that particular information (187). Two concepts that tie into information behavior are information use and information need. Also within information behavior is two components such as information seeking and information retrieval. Information seeking “is the purposeful activities of looking for information to meet a need”, so basically finding information to what you need to know about or need for own personal reasons and Information retrieval “is the seeking for some definite information within some kind of information system” (188).
When it comes to Theories and models within information behavior it is a lot more difficult to differentiate the difference between them both so they are considered together. Theories are considered to be “qualitative descriptions and explanations” while models are “general rather simple ‘conceptual models’, taking the form of flow charts and diagrams…” (192). These models are what is used to distinguish a person’s thought process and show the different factors involved within information behavior.
Models
1. Descriptive model: A list of factors and activities involved in the aspects of information behavior being considered; they may be presented graphically or as a list. This also displays the relationship between users and its information resource (193).
8 features of behavior within information seeking:
a. Starting- activities at the start of information seeking
b. Chaining- following references, citations, etc.
c. Browsing- scanning areas of interest
d. Differentiating- filtering material by source and quality
e. Monitoring- keeping up to date by checking sources regularly
f. Extracting- systematically working through a source g. Verifying- checking accuracy of information
h. Ending- concluding steps
2. Process Models: These are usually displayed in flowcharts or process diagrams. They are showing the steps or stages within the information seeking process.
3. Cognitive Models: They are like process models, but they show the “thoughts and motivations of people to the actions and entities” (196). The most referable is Wilson’s “expanded model” (196).
4. Complex Models: This model “explains information behavior as a linear, ordered set of stages, and to focus on specifically information-related action and cognition” (197). These type of models are more elaborate because they provide more of a complex context with a numerous amount of perspectives
QUESTIONS
1. When it comes to information behavior and its component ‘information need’ some have argued that there is no such thing and others have argued that it is either other kinds of needs or ‘only’ an expression of a psychological state of mind. Which one do you agree with? Why?
2. Out of the four models which one appeals to you most? How have you used it within your field or in life in general?