Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB) refers to the process by which individuals search for, identify, and acquire information to satisfy a specific need or to solve a particular problem. This concept is central to the study of how people engage with information resources, be it in libraries, digital environments, or other settings. Understanding ISB is essential for librarians, researchers, and information professionals because it helps in designing information systems, improving library services, and tailoring content delivery to better meet users' needs.
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1. Concept of Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB)
Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB) can be defined as the actions and processes involved when an individual actively searches for, gathers, and uses information to fulfill a need. It goes beyond merely accessing information; it involves decisions about what information to seek, where to search, and how to evaluate and use the information.
ISB is shaped by various factors, including an individual's personal characteristics (such as age, experience, and skills), the context of the information need, the information environment, and the tools or systems available for information access. The process often begins when an individual recognizes that they have an information need, and it concludes when they find information that fulfills that need, or sometimes when they find out that the information is unavailable or inaccessible.
Key Aspects of ISB:
Need Recognition: The first step in the ISB process is recognizing the gap in knowledge or the problem that requires information.
Information Searching: This is the process of locating and obtaining the required information, often involving tools like search engines, databases, libraries, or expert consultations.
Evaluation of Information: Once the information is gathered, individuals assess its relevance, credibility, and usefulness.
Application of Information: After evaluating the information, individuals apply it to solve the problem or satisfy the need that prompted the information search.
Example: A student needs to write a research paper. They begin by recognizing the need for academic articles on a particular topic. They search databases, evaluate the quality of the articles, and then use the most relevant ones in their paper.
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2. Factors Influencing Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB)
Several factors can influence the way people engage in information-seeking activities:
A. Individual Factors:
Personal Knowledge and Experience: A person’s prior knowledge about a subject and familiarity with information sources can influence their search strategies.
Cognitive Style: Individuals with different cognitive styles (e.g., detail-oriented vs. holistic thinkers) may approach information seeking in unique ways.
Skills and Abilities: Familiarity with information technologies and search techniques affects how effectively individuals can seek and find information.
B. Contextual and Environmental Factors:
The Information Need: The complexity and urgency of the need can influence how actively and extensively someone searches for information.
Social and Cultural Context: Social factors, including cultural background and peer influence, can impact the way people seek and use information.
Availability of Information Resources: Access to digital tools, libraries, experts, and databases plays a significant role in shaping an individual’s information seeking process.
C. Psychological and Motivational Factors:
Motivation: An individual’s motivation to find information may vary based on their interest in the topic, personal goals, or external pressures (such as deadlines).
Emotions and Stress: Emotional states, such as frustration or excitement, can affect how an individual interacts with information.
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3. Models of Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB)
Several models have been developed over the years to describe and explain the information-seeking process. These models offer different perspectives on the sequence of actions, the types of users, and the influencing factors involved in ISB. Below are some of the prominent models:
A. The Information Search Process (ISP) Model (Dervin)
Developed by Brenda Dervin in the 1970s, this model focuses on the idea of "sense-making." Dervin proposed that information seeking is a process in which individuals bridge gaps in their knowledge by searching for information. The model is based on the premise that people face moments of uncertainty or gaps in their understanding and then engage in information seeking to bridge those gaps.
Key Elements of Dervin’s ISP Model:
Situations or Gaps: The starting point for seeking information is the recognition of a gap in knowledge or a situation requiring resolution.
Bridging the Gap: People seek information to close the gap between what they know and what they need to know.
Sense-Making: Information is used not just to solve problems but to create a meaningful understanding of the situation.
Example: A person wanting to cook a new recipe might experience a "gap" in knowledge about how to prepare a particular dish. They then seek out recipes, cooking tips, and instructions to bridge that gap.
B. The Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process Model
Kuhlthau’s model, developed in the 1990s, emphasizes the emotional and cognitive aspects of information seeking. It describes how individuals go through stages of uncertainty, exploration, focus, and closure as they engage in an information search.
Key Stages in Kuhlthau’s ISP Model:
1. Initiation: The person recognizes a need but experiences uncertainty about the information.
2. Selection: They begin to focus on the information they want to search for.
3. Exploration: Individuals explore the information and try to find relevant materials, often feeling confusion or ambiguity.
4. Formulation: The information seeker clarifies the problem and starts refining their search.
5. Collection: They collect and evaluate information to answer their need.
6. Presentation: The final stage involves synthesizing and presenting the information.
Example: A student begins a research paper by recognizing they don’t know enough about a topic. After some exploration and gathering information, they narrow down their focus and begin drafting their paper.
C. The Wilson’s Model of Information Seeking (1996)
This model focuses on the complexity of the information-seeking process and incorporates both cognitive and contextual elements. Wilson identified three types of information-seeking activities:
1. Passive Information Seeking: Information is sought unintentionally or incidentally.
2. Active Information Seeking: A deliberate search for specific information with defined goals.
3. Intervening Factors: These include environmental and psychological factors that may influence the seeking process, such as past experiences, personal motivation, and environmental constraints.
Example: A person might casually overhear a conversation that sparks their curiosity about a topic (passive seeking) or purposefully search for academic articles to support a research project (active seeking).
D. The Ellis Model of Information Seeking (1989)
In this model, Ellis focuses on information-seeking behavior in academic and research contexts. He identifies seven common behaviors that people engage in during the information-seeking process:
1. Starting: The individual begins searching for information.
2. Chaining: Refers to using references from known sources to find new resources.
3. Browsing: Looking through resources in an exploratory way.
4. Differentiating: Differentiating relevant from irrelevant information.
5. Filtering: Selecting the most relevant resources from those found.
6. Monitoring: Ongoing assessment of the search process and information relevance.
7. Extracting: Gathering the useful data from the sources.
Example: A researcher starts with a general search on a topic (starting), follows citations in academic papers (chaining), and refines their search based on new findings (monitoring and filtering).
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4. Conclusion
Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB) is a dynamic and complex process that individuals undergo to fulfill information needs. By understanding the concept and models of ISB, information professionals can design more effective information retrieval systems, provide better user support, and enhance the overall information-seeking experience. The models developed by scholars such as Dervin, Kuhlthau, Wilson, and Ellis offer valuable insights into the stages, strategies, and emotional aspects involved in ISB, helping to understand how users interact with information in different contexts. Ultimately, improving ISB leads to more efficient information retrieval, better decision-making, and a greater ability to meet one’s informational needs.
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