Information Seeking

Abstract

Information seeking is the intentional or purposive acquisition of stimuli that contribute to one's knowledge or beliefs. People typically seek information to reduce their uncertainty about a situation or another person. However, information seeking can also be used to manage uncertainty in other ways, such as trying to increase one's uncertainty about something. A variety of disciplines study information seeking; these include communication, library and information sciences, and psychology. Across these disciplines, information seeking research aims to understand the types of sources people use to seek information, the factors that predict whether and how people will seek information, and the consequences of information seeking that people experience. Sources of information include interpersonal sources such as friends, family, or support groups; people with expertise on the topic; books, magazines, pamphlets, and other publications; broadcast media such as television and radio; and the Internet. Sources can vary in their orientation toward entertainment or information, their tailorability, and their credibility. Information seeking is predicted by demographic factors such as age and gender, personal factors such as self‐efficacy, and experiences such as social support. Information searches can have positive results such as increased knowledge, uncertainty management, and positive behavior change, or negative results such as information overload. Theoretical or conceptual frameworks such as the sense‐making methodology, the comprehensive model of information seeking, uncertainty management theory, and the berrypicking model help explain people's information seeking behaviors and experiences. Other, related types of information behaviors include information scanning and information avoidance.