2134/3726
Mark Hepworth
Mark
Hepworth
Knowledge of information behaviour and its relevance to the design of people-centred information products and services
Loughborough University
2008
Behaviour
Information services
Social inclusion
Electronic media
Information Systems
Library and Information Studies
Information and Computing Sciences not elsewhere classified
2008-10-10 10:54:13
Journal contribution
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Knowledge_of_information_behaviour_and_its_relevance_to_the_design_of_people-centred_information_products_and_services/9416552
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is first to highlight some of the social phenomena that are
driving the design of people-centred information solutions; second, to develop a broad ontology of
information behaviour research that serves to identify factors that should be taken into account when
designing such solutions. Finally, the author illustrates how this knowledge is being applied in the
design of people-centred inclusive information products and services.
Design/methodology/approach – The author draws on the information behaviour literature to
highlight key drivers and to develop and illustrate the ontological framework. The significance of this
framework is then demonstrated by providing examples of how this knowledge has been applied in
the design of people-centred inclusive information products and services.
Research limitations/implications – This is a conceptual paper and based on the informed,
subjective analysis of previous research. However, relating theory to practice does provide an
indication of the validity of this conception of one’s knowledge of information behaviour to
people-centred design.
Originality/value – The paper helps to provide an overview of information behaviour research, the
nature of the domain and the levels of abstraction. The article also makes a direct link between the
theoretical world of information behaviour research and the empirical world of people-centred design.
Hence, it also presents a case for the importance of the body of knowledge that people in information
science refer to as information behaviour.