Working with activity theory: Context, technology, and information behavior

Abstract

Over the last 7 years, the AIMTech Research Group in the University of Leeds has used cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) to inform a range of research activities in the fields of information behavior and information systems. In this article, we identify certain openings and theoretical challenges in the field of information behavior, which sparked our initial interest in CHAT: context, technology, and the link between practice and policy. We demonstrate the relevance of CHAT in studying information behavior and addressing the identified openings and argue that by providing a framework and hierarchy of activity-action-operation and semantic tools, CHAT is able to overcome many of the uncertainties concerning information behavior research. In particular, CHAT provides researchers a theoretical lens to account for context and activity mediation and, by doing so, can increase the significance of information behavior research to practice. In undertaking this endeavour, we have relied on literature from the fields of information science and others where CHAT is employed. We provide a detailed description of how CHAT may be applied to information behavior and account for the concepts we see as relevant to its study. Information BehaviorIn 2002, the AIMTech research group in University of Leeds was formed with the broad aims of focusing on the interaction among information behavior, technology, organizational adaptation, and change. Although projects were undertaken in a variety of contexts and environments (from offshore oil rigs to women's refuges), a common strand, which unified research and practice within the group, was the use of cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) as a theoretical lens. In this article, we outline our motivation for using activity theory and the potential utility of the theory for understanding information behavior.The term "information behavior" was coined by Wilson to cover all aspects of information-related activity, which was originally referred to in the ARIST literature (1966)(1967)(1968)(1969)(1970)(1971)(1972)(1973)(1974)(1975)(1976)(1977)(1978)(1979)(1980) as "user needs" or "information needs" research, until Wilson (1981) suggested the term "information-seeking behavior." Later, Wilson argued that "information behavior" would be more appropriate as a broader term. Wilson's (2000) widely accepted definition describes information behavior as "the totality of human behavior in relation to sources and channels of information, including both active and passive information seeking, and information use" (p. 46). Pettigrew, Fidel, and Bruce's (2001, p. 44) definition, "the study of how people need, seek, give and use information in different contexts, including the workplace and everyday living" is approximately consistent with this. These generalized definitions encompass the active seeking and purposeful retrieval of information, as well as the passive exposure or chance encountering of information. They include an array of interactions with formal sources of information su...

Transactive memory systems and Web 2.0 in knowledge sharing: A conceptual model based on activity theory and critical realism

“…Knowledge is described as mediated, situated, provisional, pragmatic and contested (Blackler, 1995;Allen et al, 2011). Additionally, the term 'best practice' is viewed as "context-specific and practice-centred, and learning as an inherent aspect of participation in organisational activity", as opposed to equating knowledge transfer and learning with the rolling out of 'best practices', an assumption frequently held by the IS and knowledge transfer theories (Greig et al, 2012, p. 307).…”

“…An important tenet of activity theory is that all activities are seen as mediated by tools, which can be physical/material such as information systems, documents and telephones, or social/abstract, for example language, memory, or skills (Engeström, 2000;Allen et al, 2011). As such, the use of activity theory can help to overcome the overemphasis on 'technology as a solution' observed in the existing IS literature Kaptelinin & Nardi, 2006;Crawford & Hasan, 2006).…”

“…Through examining the context in AT, i.e. community, division of labour, and rules, a greater understanding of the cultural, social, and historic influences can be achieved (Engeström, 1987;Allen et al, 2011). It is argued that all actions are culturally, historically and socially situated, and are contextspecific (Nicolini, 2013).…”

An Examination of the Mediating Role for a Nursing Information System

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Intuitive vs. Analytical Mode of Information Processing: The News Broadcast Decisions Context

“…The theory relies on the Soviet psychology and early works of Vygotsky (1978) and Leont'ev (1978). CHAT provides overarching explanatory framework that enables the investigation of information behaviour of humans in social settings (Allen, Karanasios, & Slavova, 2011). Accordingly, it is based on human consciousness to explain human behaviour (Wilson, 2006).…”