New Directions In Information Behaviour

New Research in Information Behaviour provides an understanding of the new directions, leading edge theories and models in information behaviour. Information behaviour is conceptualized as complex human information related processes that are embedded within an individual's everyday social and life processes.

New Directions in Human Information Behavior, co-edited by Drs. Amanda Spink and Charles Cole provides an understanding of the new directions, leading edge theories and models in human information behavior. Information behavior is conceptualized as complex human information related processes that are embedded within an individual’s everyday social and life processes. The book presents chapters by an interdisciplinary range of scholars who show new directions that often challenge the established views and paradigms of information behavior studies. Beginning with an evolutionary framework, the book examines information behaviors over various epochs of human existence from the Palaeolithic Era and within pre-literate societies, to contemporary behaviors by 21st century humans. Drawing upon social and psychological science theories the book presents a more integrated and holistic approach to the understanding of information behaviors that include multitasking and non-linear longitudinal processes, individuals’ information ground, information practices and information sharing, digital behaviors and human information organizing behaviors. The final chapter of the book integrates these new approaches and presents an overview of the key trends, theories and models for further research. This book is directly relevant to information scientists, librarians, social and evolutionary psychologists. Undergraduate and graduate students, academics and information professionals interested in human information behavior will find this book of particular benefit.

New Research in Information Behaviour provides an understanding of the new directions, leading edge theories and models in information behaviour. Information behaviour is conceptualized as complex human information related processes that are embedded within an individual's everyday social and life processes.

Information behavior has emerged as an important aspect of human life, however our knowledge and understanding of it is incomplete and underdeveloped scientifically. Research on the topic is largely contemporary in focus and has generally not incorporated results from other disciplines. In this monograph Spink provides a new understanding of information behavior by incorporating related findings, theories and models from social sciences, psychology and cognition. In her presentation, she argues that information behavior is an important instinctive sociocognitive ability that can only be fully understood with a highly interdisciplinary approach. The leitmotivs of her examination are three important research questions: First, what is the evolutionary, biological and developmental nature of information behavior? Second, what is the role of instinct versus environment in shaping information behavior? And, third, how have information behavior capabilities evolved and developed over time? Written for researchers in information science as well as social and cognitive sciences, Spink’s controversial text lays the foundation for a new interdisciplinary theoretical perspective on information behavior that will not only provide a more holistic framework for this field but will also impact those sciences, and thus also open up many new research directions.

This introductory textbook aims to provide undergraduate students in information science and related disciplines with an applied grounding in information behavior. The book’s primary focus is to provide explicit links between information behavior and the careers that students will pursue within the information professions. With a deeper understanding of information behavior, students will be better equipped to address the many types of barriers that frequently prevent people from effectively and efficiently accessing, understanding, managing, and/or using the information they need in the “real world.” The first six chapters of the book provide students with the fundamental building blocks of information behavior, introduce them to important related concepts, and provide a deep dive into information literacy, digital literacy, the digital divide and digital inclusion. Chapters 7 through 12 introduce students to the scholarly communication system, providing guidance on how to find, read, and critically evaluate information behavior studies. Also explored in these chapters are the various methods used to investigate and understand people’s information behaviors. Topics covered include research design, research methods, research ethics, user needs assessment, and human-computer interaction and associated design methods. This part of the book also covers some of the major information behavior models and theories that have been developed to describe, predict, and/or explain people’s information behaviors. In chapters 13 through 16, the authors provide an in-depth look into their own information behavior research areas, including consumer health information behavior and health justice; youth information behavior; legal information behavior and access to justice; and information behavior in libraries. In the final chapter, students are first introduced to a wide range of careers within the information professions and then taken along on a deep dive into 10 specific jobs, with a special focus on the thread of information behavior that pervades the roles and responsibilities commonly associated with these positions. Each chapter begins with one or more scenarios illustrating concepts covered in the chapter and ends with discussion questions.

Information users and usability constitute the main building blocks of today's electronic information world. This important new text is the first to give a holistic overview of all of the necessary issues relating to information users and the usability of information services in the digital world, including user-centred design, and the characteristics and behaviour of information users. This book helps readers understand why information users and the usability of information services are important and equips them to play a proper role in designing user-centred information systems and services and to properly exploit information services for the maximum benefit of users. It covers all of the major issues, the current situation and what the various research studies from around the world show.

This unique book presents authoritative overviews of more than 70 conceptual frameworks for understanding how people seek, manage, share, and use information in different contexts. A practical and readable reference to both well-established and newly proposed theories of information behavior, the book includes contributions from 85 scholars from 10 countries. Each theory description covers origins, propositions, methodological implications, usage, links to related conceptual frameworks, and listings of authoritative primary and secondary references. The introductory chapters explain key concepts, theorymethod connections, and the process of theory development.

New Directions in the Treatment of Aggressive Behavior in Persons with Mental and Developmental Disabilities was written because of the paucity of practical, evidence-based and person-centered information regarding the treatment and management of aggressive behavior exhibited by persons with these disabilities. This book will acquaint readers about the: *scope of aggression among the mentally and developmentally disabled persons *basic principles for designing and validating novel treatments for aggressive behavior *comprehensive functional assessment of aggression that permits individualized design of treatment interventions with a high likelihood of success in reducing or eliminating aggression toward others or self. *positive behavior supports for a wide range of developmentally disabled persons, including those with traumatic brain injuries *currently validated, evidence-based medications for the control of aggression and how to use medications so they are monitored for effectiveness *cognitive-behavior therapy for aggression among the mentally ill *national and international dissemination and adoption of the treatment techniques described in this book The major reason for writing this book was to bring these new directions in the effective treatment of aggressive behavior into the mainstream of services for persons with mental and developmental disabilities. The Editors engaged in enormous efforts of dissemination -- far beyond publications and presentations to professional colleagues at conferences, conventions and institutes. Our extensive dissemination efforts - where they given workshops and training institutes - have taken place in China, Japan, India, Turkey, Israel, Algeria, Spain, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. For example, our colleagues in China recently informed us that over 50,000 Chinese persons with schizophrenia have participated in our published modules for training social and independent living skills. Our previous books have been translated in numerous languages, and at last count are in active use in 23 countries. Their goal in writing this book was to encourage various service agencies, treatment facilities and clinical teams to use positive techniques in managing aggressive behavior and teach appropriate communication and self-management skills.