INST 352 Lecture 1: INST352 Lecture 1: Introduction

• School: University of Maryland
• Department: Information Studies
• Course: INST 352
• Professor: Gigigan

Document Summary

Studies of information behavior (or the ways that individuals" perceive, seek, understand, and use information in various life contexts) have increased, exponentially, since the first edition of this book was published in 2002. In that time, we have also seen an increase in the application of critical theory to the range of activities comprising information behavior (ib). The contexts, people, and situations that are studied continue to grow and evolve. Researchers are continuing to expand the range and type of methods and methodologies that they use in their work, particularly in arts-based and qualitative approaches. And, we continue to explore (and debate) the language and terminology that we use to describe the boundaries and focus of this field of study. This volume explores all of these issues to provide a glimpse of the current state of ib research, including new trends that are appearing on the horizon. They are types of behaviors that are basic to human existence.