A need for information on information needs

Abstract

Introduction. We report a study on everyday life information needs in order to obtain a deeper understanding and insight of what constitute information needs, and how they can be characterised. Method. The information needs stems from three different simulated work task experiments where the real needs served as baseline. The users in Set 1 were bachelor and master’s students from several disciplines resulting in 26 information needs. Set 2 provided 23 information needs from bachelor students in Library and Information Science. Set 3 was from a boarding school and consisted of 38 information needs from pupils and teachers. Analysis. The users answered three questions: 1) What are you going to find information about?; 2) Why are you interested in this information?; and 3) What are you going to use the information for? In the subsequent coding, the three questions formed the basis for identification of the topic, domain and purpose of the information needs. The data were coded inductively. Results. The information needs belonged to three different domains (work, studies and personal interest). The needs served ten different types of purposes (to decide between two or more alternatives, to make a decision influencing your personal life, to make a decision changing your life; to find inspiration for something you want to achieve; to find information supporting you in hobby/leisure activities; to learn something new about a phenomenon; to plan a holiday trip; to compare prices, quality etc. for purchasing something; to let time pass by; and to write an assignment, report or similar). Conclusions. The nuances and depths of the information needs are best understood in the light of the domain and purpose, because they add insight about the context of searching and the motivation for searching.