Affective Factors in Human Information Behavior: A Conceptual Analysis of Interdisciplinary Research on Information Behavior

Abstract

Purpose/Thesis: The article contains theoretical and conceptual reflection and analysis of how emotions and other affective phenomena are defined and understood in contemporary research on human information behavior. The article draws attention to the interdisciplinary nature of research into affective information activities.
 Approach/Methods: The reported research employs a qualitative approach, relying on critical literature review, and conceptual and thematic analysis. The analyzed material came from select publications from 2014–2020.
 Results and Conclusions: Information science studies the role of emotions in information behavior. However, the application of the affective paradigm remains very limited. The affective understanding of information activities should be constantly expanded on an interdisciplinary basis with reference to theories and methods of other disciplines, such as psychology.
 Originality/Value: The article studies the development of the theoretical affective phenomenon pa­radigm and presents the most important approaches psychology takes to emotions. By analyzing the latest trends in the study of affective information behaviors, the study joins the collaborative effort to develop an agenda providing a theoretical and practical basis for the development of interdisciplinary research within the affective paradigm.

Information-seeking behaviours of teacher students: A systematic review of qualitative methods literature

“…The reviews have confirmed the research gap identified by information-seeking behaviour researchers' (e.g. Krakowska, 2020;Lopatovska & Arapakis, 2011;Savolainen, 2015a;Savolainen, 2015b;Nahl & Bilal, 2007) findings that minimal LIS research attention has been given to affective information-seeking behaviours. It has also showed that few studies are investigating behaviours in research practice, of which none studied affective information-seeking behaviours.…”

“…The lack of qualitative and overall research regarding teacher students' information-seeking emotions confirms information-seeking behaviour researchers (e.g. Krakowska, 2020;Lopatovska, & Arapakis, 2011;Savolainen, 2015a;Savolainen, 2015b;Nahl & Bilal, 2007) findings that minimal LIS research attention has been given to affective information-seeking behaviours. This is especially true since none of the studies in the reviews offered any post-positivist/qualitative (Hepworth et al, 2014) and conceptual/researcher (Lloyd, 2017) exploration.…”

“…Information-seeking behaviour researchers (e.g. Krakowska, 2020;Lopatovska & Arapakis, 2011;Savolainen, 2015a;Savolainen, 2015b;Nahl & Bilal, 2007) have identified this critical gap. Howerver, some research has been conducted recently.…”

“…Howerver, some research has been conducted recently. In a thematic review from 2020, Krakowska (2020) provide some examples. Of these, a number of studies (e.g.…”

Expanding Our Conceptions of Embodied and Affective Information Interactions with Queer Theory

“…"Affect" broadly refers to emotions or feelings (here, we consider affect to be synonymous with emotions and feelings rather than a separate construct; see Ahmed, 2013). Emotions are perhaps less commonly-or at least less specifically-Panels discussed in literature beyond that which examines people's feelings within formal knowledge institutions like libraries and schools (Julien & Fourie, 2015;Krakowska, 2020;Kuhlthau, 1988;Nahl & Bilal, 2007) or beyond psychological takes on information seeking (see Savolainen, 2015). Affect may be less explicitly discussed than embodiment because emotions are stereotypically feminized and therefore not often considered "significant" elements of people's experiences (Ahmed, 2004(Ahmed, , 2013Doty, 2016).…”