INLS 200 tuesday january 15 human information interaction

INLS 200 tuesday, january 15

human information interaction • people interact with information routinely – seekers – targeted audience – “innocent bystanders” – prospectors • interactions are influenced by situational variables • information as a personal construct

Carefully craft one sentence to answer: WHAT IS INFORMATION?

information as Thing Something that is evidence that: – we can study – has meaning – can pass from one person to another Tangible physical objects, items, and entities are examples. Knowledge and ideas must be represented –and representations are “things”

information as Thing Information appears to us in a material form … and can be described in a language of physical things. As material objects, [information] can then be collected, organized, and retrieved for use. Raber, 2003

information as Process Involves learning, it is the act of informing – as you learn, you change Information as a “verb” –transfer of information, communication.

information as Knowledge When information is internalized – it becomes part of you Intangible ideas, etc. are examples

more definitions of information • Marchionini – Anything that changes one’s understanding • Shannon & Weaver – Uncertainty reduction

Action Knowledge Information Data= “are sets of symbols not necessarily understood by, found meaningful by, or causing a change of state in the destination. ” (e. g. hieroglyphics) Information= “if a message is understood, found meaningful, or changes the state, then it is properly called information. ” “…. it gets through to the recipient’s mind (or mechanical equivalent). ” Knowledge= when information is used to make a decision, take an action, to understand future messages… “…knowledge is seen as the …integration of information received by any given entity”

Kevin Durant’s closely guarded attempts happen all over the court …but he actually makes his shots in only a few select areas

Information Interactions Caveat • We interact with information constantly • Our interactions are related to our past experiences, our current situation, and our goals (among other things) • We do not have the same reactions to the same piece of information • We do notice the same things • Designing interaction is a complex problem

10 dubious assumptions • In small groups discuss one of the ten myths surrounding information seeking as described by Case/Dervin • Do you agree / disagree with myth label? How strongly? • Identify an example that supports the label of myth • Identify an example that contradicts the label of myth