INFO 310 - Models of Information Behavior 2
April 20, 2004
Notes By: Egaas, Fortier, Prins

Ellis (1989)
    > Information-seeking patterns of social scientists
    > Six characteristics:
        - Starting
        - Chaining
        - Browsing
        - Differentiating
        - Monitoring
        - Extracting

ASCII TIME!!!

              Browsing
           /     |     \
       /         |         \
   /             |            \
Starting --- Chaining --- Differentiating --- Extracting --- Verfying ---> Ending
    \            |            /
       \         |         /
           \     |      /
             Monitoring


Kuhlthau (1991)
    > Six stages in the information search process
    > Incorporated in three realms
        - affective - feelings
        - cognitive - thoughts
        - physical - actions

Stages
    > initiation - the first awareness of a lack of knowledge or understanding
    > selection - identifying the general topic of the approach to be pursued
    > exploration - investigating information on the general topic, to improve orientation sufficiently to form a focus for resolving the problem
    > formulation - forming a focus for the information encountered
    > collection - extends and supports the focus and selects information pertaining specifically to the focus
    > presentation - completing the search and preparing to present or otherwise use the findings

Dervin (1992)
    > Rooted in communications theory
    > User-centered approach to study of information seeking and use
    > Application of sense-making theory in practice:
        - Neutral questioning reference interview - technique

Wilson (1999)
    > Fewer models of information behavior than information seeking behavior
    > Information seeking behavior is a consequence of a need perceived by a user
    > May involve other people though information exchange
    > Introduces concept of information use

Personal Information Collection
    > A personal subset of the information world
         - A collection of information sources and channels that we as individuals have acquired, cultivated, and organized over time and in response to a range of stimuli
         - Where we turn first when we need information to do a task or pursue an interest
    > Mental construct, thing, and process

Personal Information Collection Is...
    > A Mental Construct
        - Against information overload and fragmentation
        - For attention and memory
        - To have information on hand when it is needed
        - Other reasons - fun, collecting, etc...
    > Personal information environment
    > Personal information space
    > Information farming

Personal Information Collection Is A...
    > Set of things
        - Content in various forms (documents, web pages, mail, notes, calendars, address books, etc...)
        - Structures for representing and organizing this information (folders hierarchies, piles, lists, etc.)
        - Pointers to information (people, links, favorites, etc..)

Personal Information Collection is...
    > A set of processes (embedded in information events)
        - Selecting
        - Keeping / Leaving
        - Re-Finding
        - Maintaining

Information Events
    > When an individual makes contact with an information source or channel
        - The result of intentional information seeking, information encountering, or being given information by another person
    > The individual will choose to use, ignore or delay use of the information

Selecting
    > Distinguishing and selecting useful information
        - The assumption of a personal information collection is that the individual will select and keep useful information and discard information that is not useful
    > How
        - Personal Anticipate Information Need (PAIN)
        - Imperfect sensitivity
            * False positives (never prove to be useful)
            * Incorrect rejections (reject things that would have been useful)

Keeping/Leaving
    > Keep
        - Interventions to acquire and include the information source or channel in the personal information collection
            * Filing; Storing a document in a folder; Making a Bookmark or Favorite; Send email to others or to self
    > Leave
        - Leave the information source or channel in situ
            * I can find it again when I need it
            * Part of the mental construct of the personal information collection
                - E.g. regularly used website
                
Re-finding
    > Ultimate purpose and critical test of the personal information collection
    > Depends upon
        - Information literacies
        - Memory
        - Keeping and maintaining processes

Maintaining
    > Re-evaluating the usefulness of information sources and channels that have been included in the personal information collection
        - Re-organizing information
        - Removing false positives
        - Updating or upgrading taxonomies

*** Assignments ***
Observations due on Thursday