INFO 521: Information Behavior (IB)

Chapter Three: Research methodology

and methods for Information behavior

Instructor
Dr. Lawrence Abraham Gojeh;
Department of Information Science,
College of Compting and Informatics,
Haramaya University, Ethiopia
 Objectives
• Discuss research methodology and methods related
to the study of Information Behavior
 Introduction
• Information behaviour defined
• Information behaviour is an umbrella term for every human
interaction with information.
• Information behaviour can be:
– how people avoid information,
– how people manage their emails,
– how students seek information for assignments,
– how people serendipitously encounter information, or
– quite practically how they use, for example, a library
catalogue.
 Research Methodology and methods
for IB
• Importance of Knowing How Research is Done
• The study of research methodology and methods gives the student
the necessary training in:
– gathering material and arranging or card-indexing them,
– participation in the field work when required,
– training in techniques for the collection of data appropriate to
particular problems,
• in the use of statistics,
• questionnaires ,
• controlled experimentation in recording evidence, sorting it
out and interpreting it.
 Research Methodology…(cont.)
• Research methodology
• It seems appropriate to explain the difference between research
methodology and research methods.
• Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research
problem.
• A science of studying how research is done scientifically.
• In it we study the various steps that are generally adopted by a
researcher in studying his research problem along with the logic
behind them.
• It is necessary for the researcher to know not only the research
methods/techniques but also the methodology.
• Researchers not only need to know:
– how to develop certain indices or tests,
 Research Methodology…(cont.)
– how to calculate the mean, the mode, the median or the standard
deviation or chi-square,
– how to apply particular research techniques, but
– which of these methods or techniques, are relevant and which are
not, and what would they mean and indicate and why.
– understand the assumptions underlying various techniques
– the criteria by which they can decide that certain techniques and
procedures will be applicable to certain problems and others will
not.
– design methodology for his problem as the same may differ from
problem to problem.
• For example, an architect, who designs a building, has to consciously
evaluate the basis of his decisions, i.e., he has to evaluate why and
on what basis he selects particular size, number and location of
doors, windows and ventilators, uses particular materials and not
others and the like.
 Research Methodology…(cont.)
• Similarly, in research the scientist has to expose the research
decisions to evaluation before they are implemented.
• He has to specify very clearly and precisely what decisions he selects
and why he selects them so that they can be evaluated by others
also.
• Looking at the scope of research methodology, it has many
dimensions and is wider than that of research methods, which
constitute a part of the research methodology.
• Thus, when we talk of research methodology we not only talk of the
research methods but also:
– consider the logic behind the methods we use in the context of
our research study ,
– explain why we are using a particular method or technique,
 Research Methodology…(cont.)
– why we are not using others so that research results are capable
of being evaluated either by the researcher himself or by others.
– why a research study has been undertaken,
– how the research problem has been defined,
– in what way and why the hypothesis has been formulated,
– what data have been collected and what particular method has
been adopted,
– why particular technique of analysing data has been used, and
– a host of similar other questions are usually answered when we
talk of research methodology concerning a research problem or
study.
 Research Methodology…(cont.)
• Research methods
• Research methods may be understood as all those
methods/techniques that are used for conduction of research.
• At times, a distinction is also made between research techniques and
research methods.
• Research techniques refer to the behaviour and instruments we use
in performing research operations such as making observations,
recording data, techniques of processing data and the like.
• Research methods refer to the behaviour and instruments used in
selecting and constructing research technique.
• It is the methods that generate techniques.
• However, in practice, the two terms are taken as interchangeable
and when we talk of research methods we do, by implication, include
research techniques within their compass.
 Research Methodology…(cont.)
• However, all methods used by the researcher during the course of
studying his research problem are termed as research methods.
• Since the object of research, particularly the applied research, is to
arrive at a solution for a given problem, the available data and the
unknown aspects of the problem have to be related to each other to
make a solution possible.
• Keeping this in view, research methods can be put into the following
three groups:
– 1. Include those methods which are concerned with the collection
of data;
– 2. Consists of those statistical techniques which are used for
establishing relationships between the data and the unknowns;
– 3. Consists of those methods which are used to evaluate the
accuracy of the results obtained.
 Research Methodology…(cont.)
• Research methods falling in the above stated last
two groups are generally taken as the analytical
tools of research.
• A goal of any research method is to provide a
valid and reliable way to collect data that help
answer the research questions or provide insight
into the topics of interest to a community of
scholarship.
• Some Research methodology and methods used
in studying information behavior can be seen in
Tables 1-3 below:
 Research methodology and methods used to study information behavior
STUDY RESEARCH METHOD RESEARCH DESIGN
Information needs and uses
Kuhlthau’s Information Qualitative study. Started with a qualitative study of secondary school students and the development of the initial model in
Search Longitudinal study. 1983. The model was verified and refined through quantitative and longitudinal methods of diverse library
Process (ISP) Model users in 1989 and further developed in case studies continuing on to 2001. Data was collected at three
points during the process of information-seeking using interview techniques to elicit personal accounts
(Kuhlthau 2005:230).
Dervin and Nilan’s Sense- Set of assumptions. The study tested the Sense-making approach on auditors, engineers and architects. Time-line interviews
making approach Theoretical perspective. were used in combination with the critical-incident technique to collect data. Time-line interviews assisted
Sense-making approach. in focusing on a specific task to reconstruct an information need situation and the related activities
undertaken to bridge the information gaps. The data analysis focused on individual events rather than
individual users (Wang 1999:65).
Optimal Foraging Theory Behavioural approach. Sandstrom used co-citation analysis to examine information foraging among scholars studying the
Bibliometric and evolutionary ecology of hunter-gatherer societies. Sandstrom regarded humanists, scientists and
ethnographic methods engineers as a single class of information seekers. ecologies (situations) which involves a number of
(Pettigrew, Fidel & Bruce factors (Jacoby 2005:259).
2001:52).

Hertzum et al’s CSA Qualitative Research. Hertzum et al. observed and analysed 16 fortnightly project meetings that took place during the formative
project Observation and 8-month period from the initiation of the CSA project. The researcher attended, recorded and transcribed
concerned with the interviews the meetings. Supplementary information was collected by participating in a two-day start-up seminar,
assessment and conducting interviews with 11 of the core project participants, and inspecting various project documents.
choice of people sources Data analysis involved two phases: 11 transcripts were examined and all references to information
in a sources were marked up and annotated. This analysis, combined with findings from the literature
software engineering provided the input for creating a coding scheme. All 16 transcripts were examined to identify the
project incidents involving information sources and categorise them according to the coding scheme. Incidents
were coded with respect to reasons for discussing, selecting and referring to the information source,
employing a primary distinction between quality-related factors and cost-related factors. Incidents were
also coded with respect to whether they involved: people or documents; information or commitment
(Hertzum, Andersen, Andersen & Hansen 2002:8-10).

Kraaijenbrink’s study of the Qualitative. Kraaijenbrink used the theoretical sampling method to select the engineers for his studies and the critical
real life gaps in information Sense-making approach. incident interviewing technique to collect the data. A three step model of information usage gaps were
usage processes of 17 used to analyse the data. These gaps are: Information identification gaps, for example gaps related to
engineers – an information information needs, the availability of information, categorisation of information, navigation options, the
usage processes study. language used. Information acquisition gaps, for example gaps related to information carriers, intellectual
 Research methodology and methods used to study information behavior
STUDY RESEARCH METHOD RESEARCH DESIGN AND VALUE FOR CURRENT STUDY
Information-seeking
Cheuk Wai-Yi & Dervin’s Qualitative Qualitative. Micro-moment time-line interviews. Respondents were asked to recall a typical task he or she had
Sense-making study of the Sense-making approach accomplished at work, then focus on all micro-moments when they saw themselves ‘running out of sense’. It is
Information-seeking Situations faced these moments that are analysed in the study (Cheuk Wai-Yi & Dervin 1999).
by Professionals

Cheuk Wai-Yi’s study into the Qualitative. In-depth unstructured interviews were used to collect data. The interview procedure consisted of a warm-up
information-seeking and use process Sense-making approach session, in-depth interviews and a brief postinterview sharing session. Participants were asked to think of one
of eight auditors and eight engineers or more specific projects that they have completed. They were then encouraged to share the various stages
in their workplace contexts. that they have gone through in order to complete their work. This interviewing method is informed by Dervin’s
(1983) micro-moment time-line interview (Cheuk Wai-Yi 1998b:1-2). The interview dialogues were transcribed
and analysed, both manually and with the assistance of qualitative data analysis software titled NUD-IST.

Ellis’s Behavioural Model of
Information-Seeking patterns of
engineers and research scientists in
the industrial and business
environment of an international oil
and gas company.
Byström and Järvelin’s Task-based
Information-seeking Model
Qualitative. Informal semi-structured interviews using an interview guide (Ellis & Haugan 1997).
Naturalistic enquiry based
on Glaser and Strauss’s
grounded theory
approach.
Qualitative. A combination of questionnaires and diaries – the diaries were found suited for collecting data on performance
of individual tasks, whereas questionnaires were useful tools for collecting data on the workers studied and
their organisation (Byström & Järvelin 1994). The study was conducted in the public administration context.

Information-Seeking and Using (ISU) Qualitative – qualitative In-depth unstructured interviews, applying Dervin’s Sense-making approach for studying people (Cheuk Wai-Yi
Process Model (Cheuk Wai-Yi data analysis software 1998b). The aim was to encourage the respondents (eight auditors and eight engineers) to share real-life
1998b) entitled NUD-IST was descriptions of how they complete audit assignments and engineering projects. The exact wording of the
used. questions depended on the flow of each interview. All interviews were transcribed.

Hertzum and Pejtersen’s
investigation into how engineers’
information-seeking practices
intertwine looking for information
documents with looking for informed
people.
Two case studies. Case study 1 is concerned with how engineers acquired information from previous projects internal to the
organisation as well as from external sources: Consisted of ten interviews with people representing all groups
involved in handling R&D information. Interviews were based on “a tour of their office” where they explained
what information they had, how it was related to their work activities, how it had been acquired, and from
whom. Interviews with secretaries, archivists and librarians covered their involvement in filing documents
written by the chemists and in seeking information needed by
the chemists. Case study 2 investigates what information was needed and how it was acquired and recorded.
The study based on 18 interviews, a questionnaire, and inspection of the project documentation. Researchers
focused mainly on what information the engineers needed and used in their work and how they obtained and
managed this information. Research approach was inspired by both work analysis and ethnographic
 Research methodology and methods used to study information behavior
STUDY RESEARCH METHOD RESEARCH DESIGN AND VALUE FOR CURRENT STUDY
Environmental scanning
Aguilar’s Modes of Field research conducted Study population numbered 137 managers from 41 companies. Interviews supplemented
Environmental Scanning over a nine month period. by examination of relevant company documents, studies, directives, communication
The research covered devices (such as company news-abstracting service bulletins). During the interviews
companies in the United respondents were asked to cover at least three of the following topics: To describe their
States and six Western job, where they fit into the company’s organisation, and the organisation or persons
European countries. reporting to him or her on either a solid- or a dotted-line relationship. To list and describe
the various sources from which he or she gains external information and to estimate their
relative importance. To recall a number of specific recent instances of gaining external
information and to specify the source and how he or she came to receive the information.
Respondents were asked to provide data for two incidents. If both sets of answers
involved internal sources, the respondent was then asked to cite a third case in which an
external source was involved. A research program was designed to serve not only a
statistical survey of scanning in a number of firms but also a situational analysis of
scanning as conducted in a few selected situations (Aguillar 1967:209-215)..

Auster and Choo’s study Quantitative research. Data was collected by mail questionnaire. The Questionnaire and implementation of the
of Environmental Survey combined with survey followed Dillman’s Total Design Method. The questionnaire survey involved three
Scanning by CEOS in other mail follow-ups, sent one, three and seven weeks after the initial mailing. Interviews were
two Canadian industries. methods. used during the following stage, during which interviewees were asked to recall a recent
incident requiring
information (Auster & Choo 1993:4; Wang 1999:62,64-65).

Correia and Wilson’s Qualitative research. Documentary evidence collected included formal data (e.g. official designation, address,
study of environmental Multiple case study contact details, name of managing director, etc); publicly available data provided by
scanning in industrial coupled annual reports of the companies; historical and cultural information provided by the
organisations operating in with grounded theory managers.
the chemicals sector. method of qualitative Semi-structured interviews were used to collect core information. Observation played a
analysis. minor, but non-negligible role – it contributed to the consolidation of impressions or
confirmed information based on documentary evidence or in the interviews (Correia &
Wilson 2001).
 Exercise 3.
• Explain with reference sources the differences
that exist between research methodology and
research methods.

• Total score = 5%