Toward a unified model of human information behavior: an equilibrium perspective

Reflexão sobre os termos comportamento informacional e prática informacional

Resumo O artigo, parte da revisão de literatura da pesquisa de pós-doutorado da autora, apresenta, por meio de revisão bibliográfica, a evolução dos estudos de usuários ao comportamento informacional humano. Descreve as principais características das abordagens behaviorista, cognitivista/interacionista e integrativa/multifacetada, vinculadas ao comportamento informacional. Mostra a necessidade de uma reflexão mais aprofundada acerca do uso do termo “comportamento informacional” para “prática informacional”, quando empregados de forma intercambiável, a partir de três pontos de tensão: abrangência da abordagem cognitiva envolvendo a perspectiva social, em que se discute sobre os limites categoriais; críticas ao construcionismo em relação à ideia de que a sua característica principal é o conhecimento construído por interação social e à impossibilidade de atribuir todo desenvolvimento humano à interação humana, e, por fim, mudança da perspectiva cognitiva para uma mais integrativa, que requer ênfase na interação entre os contextos cognitivo, social, cultural, organizacional e afetivo, dentre outros.

Levels of critique in models and concepts of human information behaviour research

Purpose

To elaborate the nature of critique presented in the models and concepts of human information behaviour (HIB) research by identifying the issues to which the critique is directed and the ways in which the critique is conducted.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual analysis focusing on 58 key studies on the topic. First, the objects and ways of conducting the critique were identified. Thereafter, three levels of depth at which the critique is conducted were specified. The conceptual analysis is based on the comparison of the similarities and differences between the articulations of critique presented at these levels.

Findings

At the lowest level of depth, critique of HIB research is directed to the lack of research by identifying gaps and complaining the neglect or paucity of studies in a significant domain. At the level of critiquing the shortcomings of existing studies, the attention is focused on the identification and analysis of the inadequacies of concepts and models. Finally, constructive critiques of research approaches dig deeper in that they not only identify weaknesses of existing studies but also propose alternative in which the shortcomings can be avoided, and the conceptualizations of HIB enhanced.

Research limitations/implications

As the study focuses on critiques addressed to HIB models and concepts, the findings cannot be generalized to concern the field of Library and Information Science (LIS) as a whole. Moreover, due to the emphasis of the qualitative research approach, the findings offer only an indicative picture of the frequency of the objects critiqued in HIB research.

Originality/value

The study pioneers by providing an in-depth analysis of the nature of critiques presented in a LIS research domain.

Information search by applying VDL-based iconic tags: an experimental study

Purpose

Visual Distinctive Language (VDL)-based iconic tags are structured visual information annotation. They explicate the content and organization of tagged information by graphical and symbolic features in order to improve the vocabulary problems of textual tags. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how these special icons help in tagged-based user information searching.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-stage experiment was designed and conducted so as to follow and quantify the searching process in specific searching target case and no specific searching target case when using VDL-based iconic tags.

Findings

The experimental results manifested that VDL-based iconic tags enhanced the role of tag in information searching. They could make user better understand tag clusters, which, in turn, provide global structure of involved topics. Also, VDL-based iconic tags helped user to find out searching target more quickly with higher accuracy by taking advantages of visual representation of tag categories and symbolic signification of tag content.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to verify how structured icons work in information searching and how user’s graphical cognition impacts on tag-based information searching process. The research findings are dedicated to the theory of VDL-based iconic tags, as well as to a new visualization method for search user interface design.

Mathematical Modeling of EEG Signals-Based Brain-Control Behavior

Brain-control behaviors (BCBs) are behaviors of humans that communicate with external devices by means of the human brain rather than peripheral nerves or muscles. In this paper, to understand and simulate such behaviors, we propose a mathematical model by combining a queuing network-based encoding model with a brain-computer interface model. Experimental results under the static tests show the effectiveness of the proposed model in simulating real BCBs. Furthermore, we verify the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed model through the dynamic experimental tests in a simulated vehicle. This paper not only promotes the understanding and prediction of BCBs, but also provides some insights into assistive technology on brain-controlled systems and extends the scope of research on human behavior modeling.