Social Roles as Context in Social Roles as Context in
Information BehaviorInformation Behavior
February 29, 2012February 29, 2012U. Of North CarolinaU. Of North Carolina
Donald O. CaseDonald O. Case University of Kentucky University of Kentucky
College of Communications & College of Communications & Information StudiesInformation Studies
Overview of My TalkOverview of My Talk
• • Definitions: Information Behavior & ContextDefinitions: Information Behavior & Context
• • Facets, or Indicators, of ContextFacets, or Indicators, of Context
• • Patterns of Health Information SeekingPatterns of Health Information Seeking
• • Theories and Models that Explain TheseTheories and Models that Explain These
• • Fields & Pathways of Information SeekingFields & Pathways of Information Seeking
Information BehaviorInformation Behavior
• • This Genre First Adopted the Title of “Needs This Genre First Adopted the Title of “Needs
and Uses,” Reflecting a Library Orientationand Uses,” Reflecting a Library Orientation
• • Later it Was Called “Information Seeking”Later it Was Called “Information Seeking”
• • Recently “Information Behavior” or Recently “Information Behavior” or
“Information Practices”“Information Practices”
Importance of ContextImportance of Context
Atwood & Dervin Atwood & Dervin (1982) (1982) & &
Dervin et al (1984) Find Dervin et al (1984) Find
Problem Situations are Better Problem Situations are Better
Predictors of Seeking than any Predictors of Seeking than any
Demographic Factors.Demographic Factors.
Context: DefinitionsContext: Definitions
• “• “virtually anything that is not defined virtually anything that is not defined
as the phenomena of interest” as the phenomena of interest”
(Dervin, 1997)(Dervin, 1997)
Context: DefinitionsContext: Definitions
• “• “virtually anything that is not defined as virtually anything that is not defined as
the phenomena of interest” (Dervin, 1973)the phenomena of interest” (Dervin, 1973)
• “• “socioeconomic conditions, work roles, socioeconomic conditions, work roles,
tasks, problem situations . . .” (Talja et al.)tasks, problem situations . . .” (Talja et al.)
Context: DefinitionsContext: Definitions
• “• “virtually anything that is not defined as the virtually anything that is not defined as the
phenomena of interest” (Dervin, 1973)phenomena of interest” (Dervin, 1973)
• “• “socioeconomic conditions, work roles, tasks, socioeconomic conditions, work roles, tasks,
problem situations . . .” (Talja et al.)problem situations . . .” (Talja et al.)
• • Also the Mix of Sources to Which we AttendAlso the Mix of Sources to Which we Attend
Context: DefinitionsContext: Definitions
• “• “virtually anything that is not defined as virtually anything that is not defined as
the phenomena of interest” (Dervin, 1973)the phenomena of interest” (Dervin, 1973)
• “• “socioeconomic conditions, work roles, socioeconomic conditions, work roles,
tasks, problem situations . . .” (Talja et al.)tasks, problem situations . . .” (Talja et al.)
• • Also the Mix of Sources to Which we AttendAlso the Mix of Sources to Which we Attend
• • In my book: Demographics, Jobs, Roles In my book: Demographics, Jobs, Roles
Occupations (Unexamined)Occupations (Unexamined)
• • Scientists, Engineers, ManagersScientists, Engineers, Managers
• • Social Scientists, Humanists, other FacultySocial Scientists, Humanists, other Faculty
• • Doctors, Nurses, other Health ProfessionalsDoctors, Nurses, other Health Professionals
• • Journalists, Lawyers, Judges, Clergy, CopsJournalists, Lawyers, Judges, Clergy, Cops
• • Artists, Actors, Farmers, etc.Artists, Actors, Farmers, etc.
Demographics (Unexamined)Demographics (Unexamined)
• • AgeAge or Age Group, e.g., “Elderly,” “Children” or Age Group, e.g., “Elderly,” “Children”
• • RaceRace, Ethnicity or Language (Ethnolinguistic), Ethnicity or Language (Ethnolinguistic)
• • SocioeconomicsSocioeconomics, e.g., “Poor,” “Homeless”, e.g., “Poor,” “Homeless”
• • EducationEducation: Implied in the Latter, & also in : Implied in the Latter, & also in
Roles Like “Patient” or Jobs like “Scientist”Roles Like “Patient” or Jobs like “Scientist”
Focus on Roles: Some Focus on Roles: Some ExamplesExamples
• • Citizen, Voter, Member of the PublicCitizen, Voter, Member of the Public
• • Consumer, Buyer, ShopperConsumer, Buyer, Shopper
• • Hobbyist, Club Member, Sports FanHobbyist, Club Member, Sports Fan
• • Gatekeeper (Often in Context of Job)Gatekeeper (Often in Context of Job)
• • Student (Studies too Numerous to Count)Student (Studies too Numerous to Count)
• • Medical Medical PatientPatient, or Family/Friend of , or Family/Friend of
PatientPatient
Patient-Related Studies Patient-Related Studies Increasing:Increasing:
• • Patient Empowerment (1960s +)Patient Empowerment (1960s +)
• • Growing Health ProblemsGrowing Health Problems
• • Increasing Cost of TreatmentIncreasing Cost of Treatment
• • Dissatisfaction with Health CareDissatisfaction with Health Care
• • Fast-Growing/Changing LiteratureFast-Growing/Changing Literature
• • Disintermediation of AdviceDisintermediation of Advice
Health Info.-Seeking PatternsHealth Info.-Seeking Patterns
• • Accessibility and Habit are Key FactorsAccessibility and Habit are Key Factors
• • Preference for Personal Sources, e.g., Preference for Personal Sources, e.g.,
Friends, Family, “Patients Like Me.”Friends, Family, “Patients Like Me.”
• • 59% of Adults Use Web for Health Info.59% of Adults Use Web for Health Info.
• • It is the 3It is the 3rdrd Most Popular Web Topic Most Popular Web Topic
Demographics are Weak Demographics are Weak PredictorsPredictors
• • Women Better Seekers than MenWomen Better Seekers than Men
• • Elderly Less Demanding of DoctorsElderly Less Demanding of Doctors
• • Some Groups more Fatalistic, ReligiousSome Groups more Fatalistic, Religious
• • Poor Know Less, Have Less AccessPoor Know Less, Have Less Access
• • Education Controls for Most of TheseEducation Controls for Most of These
Many Suboptimal BehaviorsMany Suboptimal Behaviors
• • Effect of Cognitive Limits, e.g., MemoryEffect of Cognitive Limits, e.g., Memory
• • The Paradox of ProximityThe Paradox of Proximity
• • Avoidance of Threatening InformationAvoidance of Threatening Information
• • Wishful or Magical ThinkingWishful or Magical Thinking
• • Persistent Ignorance about HealthPersistent Ignorance about Health
Patterns: Cognitive LimitsPatterns: Cognitive Limits
We don’t Process All We Hear or We don’t Process All We Hear or
Recall it. Anxiety & Jargon Make this Recall it. Anxiety & Jargon Make this
Worse. Patients May Forget 50% of Worse. Patients May Forget 50% of
What They are Told. Many Forget to What They are Told. Many Forget to
Ask the Questions They Had Earlier.Ask the Questions They Had Earlier.
Patterns: Paradox of Patterns: Paradox of ProximityProximity
Some Individuals “Freeze” When Some Individuals “Freeze” When
Faced with Illness. Information Faced with Illness. Information
Seeking about Treatment May be by Seeking about Treatment May be by
Family or Friends.Family or Friends.
Zhang et al (2003): 40% of Patients & Zhang et al (2003): 40% of Patients &
30% of Spouses Don’t Discuss Cancer.30% of Spouses Don’t Discuss Cancer.
Patterns: Avoidance, BluntingPatterns: Avoidance, Blunting
• • While Waiting for Diagnosis, 70% While Waiting for Diagnosis, 70%
of Women with Breast Lumps of Women with Breast Lumps
Reported Anxiety/Worry, 60% FearReported Anxiety/Worry, 60% Fear
• • 45% Distracted Themselves45% Distracted Themselves
• • 39% Sought NO Information39% Sought NO Information
Patterns: Avoidance, BluntingPatterns: Avoidance, Blunting
• • Pifalo Pifalo et al.et al. (1997): Anxiety Decreased (1997): Anxiety Decreased
for Most Consumer Health Library for Most Consumer Health Library
Visitors, Yet Increased for 10% Visitors, Yet Increased for 10%
• • Degner & Sloan (1992): Few Patients Degner & Sloan (1992): Few Patients
Wanted Radiation Information, Unless Wanted Radiation Information, Unless
They Had the Treatment PreviouslyThey Had the Treatment Previously
Explaining Patterns: Some Explaining Patterns: Some TheoriesTheories
• • Stress & Coping TheoryStress & Coping Theory
• • Uncertainty Management, etc.Uncertainty Management, etc.
• • Uses & Gratifications/Value Uses & Gratifications/Value
ExpectancyExpectancy
• • Other Theory: Reasoned Action, Planned Other Theory: Reasoned Action, Planned
Behavior, Social Cognitive (self-efficacy), Behavior, Social Cognitive (self-efficacy),
Health Belief Model Health Belief Model
Stress/Coping Theory (Lazarus Stress/Coping Theory (Lazarus
et al.)et al.)
• • Transaction With Environment: Transaction With Environment:
PromptsPrompts
• • Cognitions & Emotions, Possibly Cognitions & Emotions, Possibly
StressStress
• • Appraisal of Stress Leads to Appraisal of Stress Leads to
Coping:Coping:
• • With the Problem, and/orWith the Problem, and/or
• • With our Emotions about the With our Emotions about the
ProblemProblem
Uncertainty Management Uncertainty Management Theory,Theory,
Problematic Integration Problematic Integration TheoryTheory
One of a Few Theories (e.g. by One of a Few Theories (e.g. by
Brashers,Brashers,
Babrow, Afifi) Assuming that PeopleBabrow, Afifi) Assuming that People
Sometimes Increase Uncertainty forSometimes Increase Uncertainty for
Strategic Reasons, including Strategic Reasons, including
Coping, orCoping, or
Managing Relationships with Managing Relationships with
Others.Others.
Examples: Deliberate Examples: Deliberate UncertaintyUncertainty
Consider a Physician Delivering Consider a Physician Delivering
Bad News to a Patient. The MD Bad News to a Patient. The MD
May Soften the Possible May Soften the Possible
Downsides, while the Patient May Downsides, while the Patient May
Seek Contradictory InformationSeek Contradictory Information
Uses & Gratifications (Katz, Uses & Gratifications (Katz, 1974)1974)
• • Needs Generate Expectations re: SourcesNeeds Generate Expectations re: Sources
• • We Use Channels & Sources AccordinglyWe Use Channels & Sources Accordingly
• • Uses Result in Gratification of Needs, andUses Result in Gratification of Needs, and
• • Other Consequences, Not All IntendedOther Consequences, Not All Intended
• • We Actively Choose, Ignore & Avoid Info.We Actively Choose, Ignore & Avoid Info.
Some Relevant ModelsSome Relevant Models• • Wilson’s Info. Behavior ModelWilson’s Info. Behavior Model
• • Wiering’s Model of UncertaintyWiering’s Model of Uncertainty
• • Longo’s Expanded Conceptual Longo’s Expanded Conceptual
ModelModel
• • Risk Models: HBM, RISP, PRISM, Risk Models: HBM, RISP, PRISM,
etc.etc.
• • Johnson’s Comprehensive Model Johnson’s Comprehensive Model
of I.S.of I.S.
WilsonWilson’’s Models Model
Wiering’s Model of Wiering’s Model of UncertaintyUncertainty
Johnson (1997) CMIS ModelJohnson (1997) CMIS Model
Information Fields vs. Information Fields vs. PathwaysPathways
• • Spatial Metaphor: Horizon, Ground, Spatial Metaphor: Horizon, Ground,
World World
Information Fields vs. Information Fields vs. PathwaysPathways
• • Spatial Metaphor: Horizon, Ground, Spatial Metaphor: Horizon, Ground,
World World
• • Field: Carriers One is Normally Field: Carriers One is Normally
Exposed to, & Sources One Normally Exposed to, & Sources One Normally
Consults = ContextConsults = Context
Information Fields vs. Information Fields vs. PathwaysPathways
• • Spatial Metaphor: Horizon, Ground, World Spatial Metaphor: Horizon, Ground, World
• • Field: Carriers One is Normally Exposed to, & Field: Carriers One is Normally Exposed to, &
Sources One Normally Consults = ContextSources One Normally Consults = Context
• • Pathway: Addressing a Need by Consulting a Pathway: Addressing a Need by Consulting a
Series of Sources, Until Satisfied or StoppingSeries of Sources, Until Satisfied or Stopping
Pathways for Genetics Pathways for Genetics AdviceAdvice
Summary and ImplicationsSummary and Implications
• • Studies of Patients & Health are Studies of Patients & Health are
IncreasingIncreasing
Summary and ImplicationsSummary and Implications
• • Studies of Patients & Health are Studies of Patients & Health are
IncreasingIncreasing
• • Prime Opportunity for R&D to Help Prime Opportunity for R&D to Help
PeoplePeople
Summary and ImplicationsSummary and Implications
• • Studies of Patients & Health are Studies of Patients & Health are
IncreasingIncreasing
• • Prime Opportunity for R&D to Help Prime Opportunity for R&D to Help
PeoplePeople
• • Wide Variety of Relevant Theories, Wide Variety of Relevant Theories,
ModelsModels
Summary and ImplicationsSummary and Implications
• • Studies of Patients & Health are IncreasingStudies of Patients & Health are Increasing
• • Prime Opportunity for R&D to Help PeoplePrime Opportunity for R&D to Help People
• • Wide Variety of Relevant Theories, ModelsWide Variety of Relevant Theories, Models
• • Social Media will be Influential (Self-Help)Social Media will be Influential (Self-Help)
Comments? Questions?Comments? Questions?
Thanks for Your Attention.Thanks for Your Attention.