scholarly journals The information trust formation process for informal caregivers of people with dementia: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Sbaffi ◽  
Sarah Hargreaves
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Trust Formation ◽  
Information Trust

PurposeThis paper provides new insights on trust formation during information-seeking processes of informal caregivers of people with dementia and identifies the sources of information deemed as trustworthy by caregivers.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a phenomenological qualitative approach in the form of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a sample of 20 informal caregivers.FindingsCaregivers trust sources that are perceived as authoritative and particularly value the information and advice provided by other caregivers. Trust in information can be divided into subjective and objective, but both are important precursors to the actual use of the information. The information available to caregivers is sufficient in quantity but inadequate in terms of ease of use, clarity and usefulness. Often, some key information needs remain unsatisfied due to the lack of timeliness, relevance and personalisation of the information.Practical implicationsThis paper provides recommendations for information and healthcare providers on how to improve communication and information relevance for informal caregivers of people with dementia.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to a more comprehensive perspective on caregivers’ information trust formation processes, which takes into account both the characteristics of the information and caregivers’ individual factors.

scholarly journals User-driven efforts in creating knowledge graph information system

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-111
Author(s):  
Stanislava Gardasevic
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Resource Discovery ◽  
The Body ◽  
Knowledge Graph ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper presents the results of a qualitative study that involved students of an interdisciplinary PhD program. The study objective was to gather requirements to create a knowledge graph information system. The purpose of this study was to determine information-seeking practices and information needs of this community, to inform the functionalities of a proposed system, intended to help students with relevant resource discovery and decision-making. Design/methodology/approach The study design included semi-structured interviews with eight members of the community, followed by a website usability study with the same student participants. Findings Two main information-seeking styles are recognized and reported through user personas of international and domestic (USA) students. The findings show that the useful information resides within the community and not so much on the program website. Students rely on peer communication, although they report lack of opportunities to connect. Students’ information needs and information seeking are dependent on their progress through the program, as well as their motivation and the projected timeline. Practical implications Considering the current information needs and practices, a knowledge graph hosting both information on social networks and the knowledge produced by the activities of the community members would be useful. By recording data on their activities (for example, collaboration with professors and coursework), students would reveal further useful system functionalities and facilitate transfer of tacit knowledge. Originality/value Aside from the practical value of this research that is directly influencing the design of a system, it contributes to the body of knowledge on interdisciplinary PhD programs.

Refugee and immigrant health information needs

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-171
Author(s):  
Margaret Zimmerman ◽  
Heather Beam
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Information Requirements ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Immigrant And Refugee ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

Purpose The purpose of this article is to provide insight into the HISB of this group. Immigrants and refugees are at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes upon resettlement. However, little scholarship reports on the health information-seeking behaviors and information needs of this population. Design/methodology/approach This study reports the findings of a study into the health information-seeking behaviors of 85 immigrant and refugee women. Women were asked to fill out a survey in their native language with both multiple choice and open-ended questions that requested information on what health information they required the most, which means they used to get it and paired this with demographic information. Findings In their own words, the participants reported information requirements regarding dental care, nutrition, general, reproductive and child health, as well as assistance in navigating the healthcare system. However, they believed that medical professionals are the most reliable sources of information and that they frequently turned to less credible sources such as friends and family or the internet. This may be because of their self-reported barriers of language and cost, as wells difficulty in understanding how to obtain information in the USA. What sources the participants used and what their informational needs were was influenced by their age, education and time living in the USA. Some comparisons are made with a group of local women in a similar study conducted concurrently by the author. Originality/value The research presented in this study provides a clearer understanding of the health information requirements and behaviors of refugee and immigrant women.

Thai immigrants’ information seeking behaviour and perception of the public library’s role during the settlement process

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 535-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pornpimol Sirikul ◽  
Dan Dorner
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
English Language ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how Thai immigrants who relocated to Auckland, New Zealand, looked for and found the information they needed during their settlement process. Design/methodology/approach The study used a qualitative methodology through semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions that were conducted with nine Thai immigrants living in the greater Auckland region. Mwarigha’s three stages of settlement and Dervin’s Sense-Making Methodology were used as theoretical frameworks for understanding the information-seeking behaviour of the Thai immigrants and their information needs and associated barriers to accessing information at different stages of the settlement process. Findings The information needs of Thai immigrants in Auckland were diverse based on the stage of each participant’s settlement process. The main information needs of the participants were for employment, English language-learning, housing, health and making connections. Their main information sources during settlement were family, friends and the internet. The participants saw Auckland Libraries as a useful source but did not take full benefit of the library’s services. The main barriers in accessing services were English language incompetence, lack of resources available in the Thai language, lack of time and library staff behaviour. Research limitations/implications The results of this study will provide library and information professionals with new insights into Thai immigrants’ information-seeking behaviour and their information needs, which may contribute to providing immigrants with the information tools they need to improve the quality of their lives in New Zealand. As this study is limited to Thai immigrants in Auckland only, there is a need to conduct a study on the information needs and seeking behaviour of Thai immigrants in other locales. It may be of interest to researchers to conduct a quantitative study of a larger sample to further generalise the findings. Originality/value There is minimal research that specifically investigates the information needs, sources and barriers to information experienced by immigrants throughout the settlement process. This study is unique in that it focuses on a specific ethnic community of Thais. The findings of this study can be a stepping stone towards further research to gain a deeper understanding of Thai and other immigrants’ information needs, sources, barriers and their perceptions towards public libraries.

Investigating failures in information seeking episodes

2017 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiwei Wang ◽  
Chirag Shah
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Holistic Understanding

Purpose People face barriers and failures in various kinds of information seeking experiences. These are often attributed to either the information seeker or the system/service they use. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how and why individuals fail to fulfill their information needs in all contexts and situations. It addresses the limitations of existing studies in examining the context of the task and information seeker’s strategy and seeks to gain a holistic understanding of information seeking barriers and failures. Design/methodology/approach The primary method used for this investigation is a qualitative survey, in which 63 participants provided 208 real life examples of failures in information seeking. After analyzing the survey data, ten semi-structured interviews with another group of participants were conducted to further examine the survey findings. Data were analyzed using various theoretical frameworks of tasks, strategies, and barriers. Findings A careful examination of aspects of tasks, barriers, and strategies identified from the examples revealed that a wide range of external and internal factors caused people’s failures. These factors were also caused or affected by multiple aspects of information seekers’ tasks and strategies. People’s information needs were often too contextual and specific to be fulfilled by the information retrieved. Other barriers, such as time constraint and institutional restrictions, also intensified the problem. Originality/value This paper highlights the importance of considering the information seeking episodes in which individuals fail to fulfill their needs in a holistic approach by analyzing their tasks, information needs, strategies, and obstacles. The modified theoretical frameworks and the coding methods used could also be instrumental for future research.

“We Need Psychological Support”: the information needs and seeking behaviors of African refugees in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 869-885
Author(s):  
Musa Dauda Hassan ◽  
Dietmar Wolfram
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
African Refugees ◽  
Information Behaviors ◽  
Midwest United States

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the information needs and seeking behaviors of African refugees in the Midwest United States. The research also investigates the sources participants consulted and their satisfaction with their information seeking and the information found.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative research study recruited 18 African refugees to participate in one or more data collection modes used in the study (questionnaire, interview, focus group). The data were analyzed using qualitative open, axial and selective coding approaches to identify themes.FindingsThe analysis of the data collected provides evidence that refugees had specific information needs centered on housing, health care, employment and education. They were not necessarily satisfied with the information they were able to find. Participants reported initially relying heavily on their caseworkers as sources of information when they first arrived in the United States until they were able to establish larger networks of contacts, which then expanded their information behaviors.Research limitations/implicationsThe number of participants and regional focus of the study do not allow for generalization of the findings to all African refugees in the United States. Still, the findings shed light on how to better serve the information needs of African refugees to help them adjust to life in their new environment.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study provide guidance for agencies that assist African refugees in adjusting to life in the United States.Originality/valueThis study represents one of the few investigations of the information needs and seeking behaviors of African refugees in the United States.

scholarly journals The information behaviours of maximum security prisoners

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Canning ◽  
Steven Buchanan
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Emotional Needs ◽  
Information Need ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Maximum Security ◽  
Interpersonal Information ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of the information behaviours of prisoners, providing insight into their information needs and information-seeking preferences, and the factors influencing their behaviours; to inform education and rehabilitation programmes. Design/methodology/approach The paper is an in-depth qualitative study. The theoretical framework was provided via Chatman’s (1996) concepts of information poverty. Participants were adult male prisoners in a Scottish maximum security prison, and prison staff. Data collection method was semi-structured interviews. Findings Prisoners have a broad range of information needs, many sensitive and many unmet. Interpersonal information sources are predominantly used due to a combination of natural preference and restricted access to other information sources. Issues of stigma and trust influence information behaviours. Further issues include restrictive social norms, and disinformation to incite violence. A significant degree of risk is therefore inherent within interpersonal information interactions, fostering self-protective acts of secrecy and deception amongst prisoners. Unmet emotional needs appear particularly problematic. Research limitations/implications The paper highlights the need for further research exploring issues of unmet emotional needs in prisoners; in particular, assistive methods of need recognition and support in the problematic context. Practical implications The paper identifies significant unmet information needs in prisoners that impact upon their ability to cope with incarceration, and prepare for successful release and reintegration. Originality/value The paper addresses an understudied group of significant societal concern and advances the understanding of information need in context, providing insight into unmet needs and issues of affect in the incarcerated small world context.

Triggers and strategies related to the collaborative information-seeking behaviour of researchers in ResearchGate

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1077-1096
Author(s):  
Sanam Ebrahimzadeh ◽  
Saeed Rezaei Sharifabadi ◽  
Masoumeh Karbala Aghaie Kamran ◽  
Kimiz Dalkir
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Collaborative Information Seeking

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the triggers, strategies and outcomes of collaborative information-seeking behaviours of researchers on the ResearchGate social networking site.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from the population of researchers who use ResearchGate. The sample was limited to the Ph.D. students and assistant professors in the library and information science domain. Qualitative interviews were used for data collection.FindingsBased on the findings of the study, informal communications and complex information needs lead to a decision to use collaborative information-seeking behaviour. Also, easy access to sources of information and finding relevant information were the major positive factors contributing to collaborative information-seeking behaviour of the ResearchGate users. Users moved from collaborative Q&A strategies to sharing information, synthesising information and networking strategies based on their needs. Analysis of information-seeking behaviour showed that ResearchGate users bridged the information gap by internalizing new knowledge, making collaborative decisions and increasing their work's visibility.Originality/valueAs one of the initial studies on the collaborative information-seeking behaviour of ResearchGate users, this study provides a holistic picture of different triggers that affect researchers' information-seeking on ResearchGate.

Profiling information needs and behaviour of Syrian refugees displaced to Egypt

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 161-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Essam Mansour
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Basic Services

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of Syrian refugees displaced to Egypt. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data in the form of three focus groups were collected from 37 Syrian refugees who have displaced to Egypt and are concentrated mainly in Greater Cairo. In-depth interviews were conducted in September 2016. Findings Data collected about the demography of Syrian refugees revealed that they tend to be men, slightly more than half, mostly with no formal education, with an average age in the mid-30’s, labelled as low-income persons and mostly single. Findings also showed that much of the information needed by Syrian refugees was described as realistic and real, but some was less clearly defined. All Syrian refugees’ information needs are strongly linked to their daily tasks. The majority of Syrian refugees reported that their priority information need was to be aware of the situation in their home country, followed by issues related to their states of the diaspora that they are passing through, such as services provided to their children, shelter and aid in general, as well as rights and obligations related to their refugee status. They also showed that they need information to help get the right or any appropriate work in the host country (Egypt). The study showed that many Syrian refugees were seeking information that meets their basic daily needs. It also showed that the information-seeking behaviour profile of a very large number of Syrian refugees was to prefer informal sources to formal sources to meet everyday problems, as well as troubles challenged by them. A very large number of Syrian refugees revealed that the verbal communication with friends and families were identified as the most popular informal sources of information sought. The study revealed that most of the Syrian refugees were able to use a variety of technologies for the purpose of communication with others, especially mobile phones, being the most key communication devices followed by almost all of them. The use of assisting technologies and devices, such as the computer and the internet and its vast applications proved to be meaningful by Syrian refugees. Other assisting technologies are also heavily used by Syrian refugees, particularly social media, including social networking sites and many other mobile applications. In addition, Syrian refugees have also relied on other technologies and tools to meet their information needs, including television and satellite channels, especially Arabic, which are widely distributed in the Arab environment. Because of some difficulties related to education and awareness, a number of Syrian refugees were not using any type of library. Syrian refugees have met several problems and challenges in accessing information. Such problem may make it difficult to find basic services, make informed decisions and stay in communication with families. Such problems have also a significant impact on their seeking and using information. Finding appropriate work to get money to secure housing, psychological burdens suffered concerning the image of being refugees, emotional distress, lack of accessing some basic services such as education and transportation, lack of financial resources, lack of time, lack of motivation and cultural and social barriers, were significant to Syrian refugees when seeking information. In spite of these challenges and problems met by Syrian refugees, a good number of them wished to improve their image as refugees and to improve their disastrous situation. Based on the review of the existing literature, as well as the findings of this study, further research is needed to understand information needs and information dissemination among Syrian refugees fled to Egypt and how they perceive, select, use, access and evaluate sources of information. Proper strategies should be designed towards the use of traditional and commonly used information dissemination channels among these refugees, such as cultural performances and group discussions. Research is also needed on the impact of illiteracy on the use of information by this category of information users. Owing to the fragile role played by different types of libraries in meeting the information needs of refugees, further research is seriously needed in this regard. In addition, appropriate services should be provided to refugees. Research limitations/implications This study focuses only on Syrian refugees displaced to Egypt. It does not cover any other refugees inside or outside Egypt, although they significantly exist in Egypt, such as Palestinians, Sudanese, Iraqis, Yemenis, Africans and many other nationals. Any conclusions resulting from this study are limited to only Syrian refugees hosted by Egypt. Practical implications This study tries to investigate the Syrian refugees’ information needs and behaviours in terms of their thoughts, motivations, attitudes, preferences and challenges met by them in their search of information. It tries to look at the factors and characteristics that affect this search. Any results from this study may generate interest and create awareness of the information needs of refugees among advocates who are interested in such groups of information users. Originality/value This study attempted to identify a significant gap in identifying the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of Syrian refugees displaced to Egypt. It is the first study of its type to address, in a systematic way, this disadvantaged group resettled and hosted by Egypt. Syrian refugees displaced to Egypt have become a matter of major concern that should be addressed and met by serious academic researchers, as well as by official authorities. The literature on the topic of this research revealed that further research is still needed to be undertaken on such group of information users, as there is a very limited research conducted on this topic in developing and Arab countries, including Egypt, particularly among academic library and information professionals.

An assessment of the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of Members of Parliament (MPs) in Bangladesh

2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 48-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Uzzal Hossain ◽  
Md Arman Hossain ◽  
Md Shariful Islam
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Members Of Parliament ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of Members of Parliament (MPs) in Bangladesh. It aimed at determining the information sources, preferred information format, frequency of seeking information and access to information and communication technology and online information services by the MPs. The study also intended to assess the role of parliament library for satisfying the information needs of the MPs. Design/methodology/approach A survey method was adopted for data collection; the respondents were interviewed by the researchers with the guidance of a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was read out for the respondents and filled up by the interviewers based on the answers they received. Fifty MPs were selected for the study using simple random sampling. The data were analysed with the help of weighted mean. Findings The study found that the MPs mainly seek information to make a parliamentary request/inquiry, to make a speech and to make a decision. The most important sources of information were minutes of sessions, mass media, personal letters and information networks; and they preferred printed formats rather than online documents. The result also showed that only a few MPs were aware of the information services provided by the parliament library and were satisfied with the services they received. Originality/value There has been no study carried out on the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of MPs in Bangladesh prior to this research. The study will help the policymakers to improve the library services for MPs in Bangladesh.

scholarly journals Making sense of dementia

2017 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliet Harland ◽  
Peter A. Bath ◽  
Ann Wainwright ◽  
Jeremy Seymour
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
People With Dementia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the information behaviours of patients newly diagnosed with dementia. Design/methodology/approach This is a cross-sectional qualitative study, using in-depth interviews with 13 people recently diagnosed with dementia. Findings Reactions to a diagnosis of dementia varied and these influenced the perception of the value of information when making sense of the diagnosis. Information was avoided if participants did not feel that they could influence their situation; instead, participants relied on internal explanations to normalise their memory loss. Barriers to information seeking and use included not knowing who to speak to, perceived stigma associated with dementia and difficulty of applying generic information to own situation. Some participants valued information that confirmed their suspicions and provided explanations. Research limitations/implications This study was based on a small sample size (n=13), the findings may not be generalisable to all people with dementia; however, the findings may be transferable to people who have recently been diagnosed with dementia. Practical implications There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to information provision for people with dementia at diagnosis, information should be tailored to individuals. Social implications There is a need to address the feeling of powerlessness and futility that some people with dementia experience at diagnosis, as this precludes independent information seeking and use. People receiving a diagnosis may need additional support and information pertinent to their specific circumstances, separate from the information needs of their carer(s). Originality/value The study provides a new understanding of the information behaviours of people recently diagnosed with dementia and how these differ from those of informal carers.

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