From the McGill University School of Information Studies, Speaker Series 2009-2010. Talk given November 20, 2009 by Lorie A. Kloda

1. Qualitative Methodology in
Information Behaviour Research
Lorie Kloda
MLIS, PhD Candidate
McGill School of Information Studies
November 20, 2009

2. Jessica Hagy. (2006 Dec 28). As the
tenth bullet states. Indexed.
http://thisisindexed.com/
L. Kloda | Qualitative Methodology in IB | Nov. 20 2009

3. Background
Why am I doing this?
L. Kloda | Qualitative Methodology in IB | Nov. 20 2009

4. What is Information Behaviour?
"...the totality of human behaviour in relation to sources and
channels, including both active and passive information seeking, and
information use." (p. 49)
Wilson, T. D. (2000). Human information behavior.
Informing Science, 3(2), 49-56.
“… that which is concerned with information seeking, determining
people's information needs, and information use.“ (p. 291)
Julien, H. & Duggan, L. J. (2000). A longitudinal analysis
of the information needs and uses literature. Library &
Information Science Research, 22, 291-309.
L. Kloda | Qualitative Methodology in IB | Nov. 20 2009

5. Noisn8r. Umbrellas at the races. Retrieved 21 Feb 2008
from http://www.flickr.com/photos/noiseh8r/155191673/
L.Kloda | Information Practice | Feb. 27 , 2008

6. What about Information Practices?
"...the emphasis is placed on the role of contextual factors
of information seeking, use, and sharing, as distinct from
the individualist and often decontextualized approaches
that are seen as characteristic of assumptions of
information behavior." (p.121)
Savolainen, R. (2007). Information behaviour and information practice:
Reviewing the "umbrella concepts" of information-seeking studies.
Library Quarterly, 77, 109-132
L. Kloda | Qualitative Methodology in IB | Nov. 20 2009

7. Information Behaviour Information Practices
focus on individual, behaviours, focus on the contextual
decontextualized
constructivist or social
cognitive viewpoint constructionist viewpoint
"seen to be triggered by needs "continuity and habitualization
and motives" of activities affected and shaped
by social and cultural factors"
Ellis' model of information Chatman's 'Life in the Round'
seeking
L. Kloda | Qualitative Methodology in IB | Nov. 20 2009

8. Evolution of Information Behaviour Research
1963 1978 1986 2004 2007
1966 1982 1990 2005
Paisley, W. J. (1968). Information needs and uses. Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, 3, 1-
30.
Wilson, T. D. (1981). On user studies and information needs. Journal of Documentation, 37, 3-15.
Brittain, J. M. (1982). Pitfalls of user research, and some neglected areas. Social Science Information Studies,
2, 139-148.
Dervin, B. & Nilan, M. (1986). Information needs and uses. Annual Review of Information Science and
Technology, 21, 3-33.
Case, D. O. (2006). Information behavior. Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, 40, 293-327.
Julien, H. & Duggan, L. J. (2000). A longitudinal analysis of the information needs and uses literature. Library &
Information Science Research, 22, 291-309.

9. McKechnie, L. (E. F.). (2006) “Spiderman is not for babies (Peter, 4 years): The “boys
and reading problem” from the perspective of the boys themselves. Canadian Journal
of Information and Library Science, 30(1/2), 57-67.

10. McKenzie, P. (2003). A model of information practices in accounts of everyday-life
information seeking. Journal of Documentation, 59(1), 19-40.

11. Reneker, M. H. (1993). A qualitative study of information seeking among members of an
academic community: Methodological issues and problems. Library Quarterly, 63, 487.

12. My Research
L. Kloda | Qualitative Methodology in IB | Nov. 20 2009

13. Kloda, L. A. & Bartlett, J. C. (2009). Clinical information behavior of rehabilitation
therapists: a review of the research on occupational therapists, physical therapists, and
speech-language pathologists. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 97(3), 194-202.
L. Kloda | Qualitative Methodology in IB | Nov. 20 2009

14. Lessons Learned
L. Kloda | Qualitative Methodology in IB | Nov. 20 2009

16. http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/posters/7c3a/zoom/

18. http://www.flickr.com/photos/valerianasolaris/3626032099/

19. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrvilhauer/2640466067/

20. Thank You
Jessica Hagy. (2009 Oct 9). Needles and
haystacks and such. Indexed.
http://thisisindexed.com/
L. Kloda | Qualitative Methodology in IB | Nov. 20 2009