Search

Abstract. Background: Health challenges can cause feelings of uncertainty that individuals intend to reduce, increase, or maintain. Those goals are connected to different information seeking and avoidance behaviors, building four uncertainty preferences. Aims: We aim to understand what drives people to seek or avoid information through a more differentiated look at the underlying uncertainty preferences and their determinants. Our starting point to explain different uncertainty preferences are stable, individual traits determining individuals’ efficacy assessments. Method: We conducted a secondary analysis of an online survey among the German public in a sample with stratified demographic characteristics ( N = 3,000). The questionnaire measured different uncertainty preferences as well as coping efficacies and communication efficacy. Regression analyses determined the relevance of these predictors for the four uncertainty preferences. Results: The considered efficacy assessments explained a greater amount of variance in uncertainty preferences applying information seeking than information avoidance, but the influencing patterns are similar. Only health literacy as a communication efficacy was positively associated with both preferences applying information seeking and negatively associated with both preferences applying information avoidance. Limitations: The concept of uncertainty preferences should be critically assessed concerning its completeness. The low explanatory power of efficacy assessments for preferences underlying information avoidance strategies shows that further research is needed to identify relevant predictors. Conclusion: The findings suggest that efficacy assessments provide cognitive resources for goal-oriented uncertainty management, but a deeper understanding of specific underlying mechanisms of the different preferences requires further examination.

Objective Health literacy and communication skills are necessary for family caregivers who often work in pairs, known as collective caregiving. Health literacy management is a relational process where communication between caregivers can be a barrier or pathway to improving or co-creating health literacy. The purpose of this study was to examine how collective caregivers manage health literacy. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted separately for 42 caregiving pairs (n = 84). The interview guide was developed using a cancer caregiver health literacy framework. Caregiving pairs were placed into one of three collective caregiving communication patterns (absolute concordant, semi-concordant, absolute discordant). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and a thematic analysis was performed by independent coders. Results The analysis revealed three different health literacy management approaches: a defined approach where caregiver roles were clearly designated (absolute concordant pairs); a contrasting approach where one caregiver was the health literacy expert (semi-concordant pairs); an independent approach characterized by individual information seeking, processing, and patient/provider engagement (absolute discordant pairs). Conclusions Health literacy support should address aspects of the family system such as caregiver-caregiver communication which influence variance in health literacy management. Practice implications Our study can inform provider communication and healthcare interventions aimed at supporting health literacy for caregivers.

The current experiment investigated whether counter-attitudinal information can alter a pre-existing attitude and the accompanying confirmation bias. Sixty-three non-clinical children (9–12 years) were shown pictures of a positive animal (quokka) or a dangerous-looking animal (aye aye). For both animals attitudes and information seeking patterns were obtained. Next, they received counter-attitudinal information of each animal; attitudes and seeking patterns were reassessed. We found that the aye aye was perceived as more dangerous and less kind compared to the quokka. A negative confirmation bias was observed for the aye aye, more negative than positive or neutral information was requested. For the quokka this pattern was absent, more positive and negative than neutral information was selected. The counter-attitudinal information decreased the scariness of the aye aye, but did marginally alter that of the quokka. Additionally, for the aye aye counter-attitudinal information increased search for positive and neutral information and decreased search for negative information. For the quokka the counter-attitudinal information only increased search for neutral information. The animals no longer differed from each other and no clear confirmation bias patterns were present. These results indicate that it is possible to change pre-existing values and their accompanying information search patterns.

Communicating complex information about environmental health risks in a single message is impossible. Thus, message designers hope that risk messages encourage people to think more about the message and risks, look for more information, and ultimately make behavior changes. The presentation of information about environmental risks using threat appeals is a common message design strategy thought to increase message engagement and influence attitudes, information seeking, and risk reduction behaviors. We compared lower threat messages, which did not include explicit statements about susceptibility and severity of a risk, to higher threat messages, which did. We combined predictions from the extended parallel process model with dual-process theories of persuasion to examine whether people respond to these types of messages differently. In an online experiment, participants (N = 892) were randomly assigned to a message condition (higher or lower threat) and topic condition (arsenic, bisphenol A, or volatile organic compounds). Overall, participants exposed to higher threat messages (regardless of risk topic) reported experiencing higher levels of fear. Higher levels of fear were associated with more positive thoughts about the message (in alignment with the message advocacy) and fewer negative thoughts about the message (against the message advocacy), both of which influenced message attitudes. Finally, message attitudes were associated with increased information seeking and intentions to engage in risk reduction behaviors.

Copyright is under contest in Australia amid growing digital cultures of sharing. Using metaphor as a frame for analysis, this study applies internet search data (Google Trends) methods to visualise Australian online information-seeking patterns for metaphors related to copyright and sharing. An overview of legal metaphors of online copyright (‘piracy’, ‘war on copyright’) and metaphors of digital sharing (‘sharing is caring’, ‘sharing economy’) leads to a critical examination of the ‘metaphor struggles’ between the rhetoric of copyright infringement and sharing cultures promoted by social media. Key findings presented are of decreased information seeking for copyright metaphors and increased information seeking for sharing metaphors. Online information-seeking patterns, as visualised by internet search data, represent a form of public mobilisation. Visualisation of these patterns of public information seeking for metaphors of copyright and sharing demonstrates shifting conceptions of copyright in contemporary digital cultures. This article concludes by raising a potential relationship between rising ethics of online sharing norms and diminishing legitimacy of online copyright, as the legal metaphor of copyright appears to transition through the metaphor cycle.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether preprint servers are a disruptive technology for science, librarians or information seeking among the general population. Design/methodology/approach This column explores what preprint servers are, how they are used in the world of science, how their usage changed in response to the deluge of COVID-19 related research papers and how they might impact the work of librarians and society in general. Findings Preprint servers are not a highly disruptive technology, but they do challenge both scientists and librarians to understand them better, use the information they find on them with care and educate society in general on topics such as peer review and the importance of using well-vetted, good quality science in making important decisions. Originality/value Up until the past year and a half, only a small segment of the librarian profession needed to be concerned with preprint servers. With the increasing presence of references to non-peer-reviewed articles from preprint servers in popular media reports, most librarians now need to know something about this technology. It is also useful to consider how the technology might benefit and create challenges for their work.

Religious leaders involved in social justice activities (SJC) exist at the junction of two information communities—religious leaders and social justice activists—possessing unique information needs and information-seeking behaviors. There are no existing studies focusing on the information needs of SJC, but much can be gleaned from the explorations around the information seeking behaviors of clergy, religious leaders, and activists. SJC information behaviors can be viewed through the lens of a variety of information systems and frameworks but particularly within the encountering of information in information grounds. Due to the diversity of SJC, many of their information grounds exist in online communities utilizing social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. There is a need for further research on the information-seeking behaviors of SJC, to further understand their information needs so information professionals can provide better assistance to this unique information community.

Over the past decades, technological advancement and the mass digitization of information resources have led to the development of a range of digital resources for academic scholarship. Understanding the needs of scholars when employing digital resources for their work can lead to the building of digital infrastructure that not only enables access to the required information but also has the potential to transform scholarship through having a positive effect on the whole scholarly workflow. Through this article, we show how the design of digital libraries and resources can be improved to enhance information discovery and use in art history, while also benefiting other key areas of the research process. By employing an ethnographic approach to the study of scholarly practices, we developed a sound understanding of art historians’ behaviour when interacting with information at different stages of the scholarly workflow. Our results show that scholars exhibited highly creative behaviour when conducting core scholarly activities, such as information seeking and use. Yet, the challenges they often encountered showed that there is still more work to be done to improve digital infrastructure and tools for scholarship in the field. Part of this article will focus on the user requirements for designing systems that facilitate discovery, encourage creative use of information, and trigger inspiration.

Introduction Maintaining productive employment can be challenging for people with ongoing low back pain (LBP) or neck pain (NP) due to pain, function and participation sequelae. Resources and information to support them staying at work may be beneficial, although preferences for the nature and accessibility of resources remain uncertain. The current study aimed to explore the work experiences and information-seeking behaviours of employed individuals with ongoing LBP or NP, to support them in staying at work. Method Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 40 participants currently employed with ongoing LBP or NP. The interview schedule covered participants' experience of managing their LBP or NP at work, resources sought to assist with finding or maintaining employment, and where they accessed these resources. Interviews were recorded and analysed using thematic analysis. Results Participants were employed in a wide range of job types and most reported a decrease in productivity. Five key themes were identified: (1) the meaning of work, (2) to disclose or not, (3) information seeking, (4) gaps in resources, (5) trusted sources. Work was highly valued by participants, despite the challenges in maintaining employment with ongoing LBP or NP. To support staying at work a range of information was sought by participants, but challenges in accessing reputable resources and trusting the sources were identified as key issues. Conclusion Opportunities exist for easily accessible, multi-level information from trustworthy sources targeted at the employer organisations, individuals and clinicians to support people in staying at work with ongoing LBP or NP.

PurposeThis study investigates the effect of protection motivation theory (PMT) constructs on Arab women's feelings while seeking information during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study has adopted a mixed-method approach using semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire to explore PMT constructs' impact on women's feelings while seeking information on COVID-19. Several tests, such as standard deviation, mean, skewness, kurtosis and persons, were used to check the reliability of data and inter-relationships between constructs.FindingsThe study results show a significant positive correlation between PMT constructs (perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, response efficacy, self-efficacy and response cost) with the feelings of Arab women during information seeking on COVID-19. However, the relationship between threat appraisal and feelings during information seeking was more substantial than coping appraisal and feelings during information seeking. The researchers hope that this study creates a baseline of cross-cultural studies on PMT constructs' effect on women's feelings while seeking health information.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study was conducted on female participants only. While the study intended to examine Arab women's feelings during information seeking with PMT's application, the results may be affected by other factors that were not considered in the current study. Furthermore, the questionnaire was distributed in three Arab countries, which means that the results cannot be generalized in other geographical contexts. Therefore, similar studies need to be conducted in larger geographical areas as cultural factors may produce different results.Originality/valueThis study explores women's feelings while seeking COVID-19 information using the PMT constructs. As far as we know, this study is the first study to investigate Arab women's feelings while seeking health information during pandemics. PMT utilization is considered a new approach to discover and measure informational needs and feelings associated with it during pandemics.

Background The radiology trainee on-call experience has undergone many changes in the past decade. The development of numerous online information sources has changed the landscape of opportunities for trainees seeking information while on-call. In this study, we sought to understand the current on-call information seeking behaviors of radiology trainees. Methods We surveyed radiology fellows and residents at three major metropolitan area academic institutions. Survey topics included demographic information, on-call volumes, on-call resource seeking behaviors, preferred first and second line on-call resources and rationale for particular resource usage. Results A total of 78 responses from trainees were recorded, 30.5% of the entire surveyed population. 70.5% of trainees preferred Radiopaedia as their first line resource. 26.9% of trainees preferred StatDx as their second line resource. 75.6% of respondents preferred their first line resource because it was easiest and fastest to access. 70.3% of respondents assigned a rating of 4 out of 5 when asked how often information they look for is found while on-call. There was a statistically significant difference according to gender (p = 0.002) with a higher percentage of males listing Radiopaedia as their first line resource compared to females. Discussion The radiology trainee on-call experience is influenced by various factors. Over the past decade, online resources, particularly the open access resource Radiopaedia and the paid service StatDx, have overwhelmingly become the preferred first and second line options, as demonstrated by our study results.

Objective Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health problem, causing long-term burden to patients and caregivers. Patients and their families often resort to seeking online information regarding TBI management while awaiting formal health care consultations. Although this information is accessible and immediately available, little is known about the quality of online resources. We evaluated the accessibility, relevance, and readability of information regarding TBI from major online search engines. Methods TBI-related search terms were entered into 2 online search engines (Google and Yahoo), and the first 30 websites per search were assessed for eligibility. Quality (DISCERN score, JAMA Benchmark score) and readability (Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease Score) were assessed. Associations between search ranking, quality, and readability were evaluated. Results In total, 202 websites were evaluated with mean DISCERN score 36.5 ± 9.9/80, signifying poor global quality, and mean JAMA Benchmark score 2.8 ± 1.1/4. The majority required 9–12 years of education (113/202; 55.9%) according to Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level and categorized as “Difficult” on Flesch Reading Ease Score (94/202; 46.5%). Website quality was not associated with search ranking or readability. Conclusions There is a paucity of high-quality online resources for patients with TBI. Herein, we highlight: 1) the importance of guidance from healthcare professionals regarding online-information seeking; and 2) recommendations for the most useful online resources available.

Purpose Information seeking has been observed to be important for the coping and empowerment of parents of children with rare diseases. This study was conducted to understand the education needs of families of children with pediatric intestinal failure (IF) and how technology might be effectively leveraged to address these needs. Design and methods A qualitative methodology using thematic analysis was utilized. Purposeful sampling was adopted to recruit 10 parents/caregivers of children with IF. Participants participated in a 1:1 semi-structured interview. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and themes identified through open and focused coding. Results Four themes emerged: (1) reliable electronic or printed information resources relevant to their child's unique needs were lacking; (2) an educational program with in-person and hands-on learning was preferred for transition to home; (3) practical and relatable information was valued over medical knowledge as children's needs evolved; and (4) creation of electronic resources would be useful for information seeking and sharing. Conclusion To cope with the responsibilities of caring for a child with IF, participants sought information beyond what they received. Participants preferred a blended approach of care team discussions and electronic tools for receiving knowledge and skills. Parents' connections with other caregivers was important for practical day-to-day management information, as well as supporting their well-being. Practice implications Development and implementation of accessible digital resources with emphasis on practical information is required. Beyond medical and practical informational needs, building resilience and supporting psychologic needs for parents/caregivers of children with IF emerged as important needs to address.

The current research takes a dyadic approach to study early word learning and focuses on toddlers’ (N = 20, age: 17–23 months) information seeking and parents’ information providing behaviors and the ways the two are coupled in real-time parent-child interactions. Using head-mounted eye tracking, the current study provides the first detailed comparison of children’s and their parents’ behavioral and attentional patterns in two free-play contexts: one with novel objects with to-be-learned names (Learning condition) and the other with familiar objects with known names (Play condition). Children and parents in the Learning condition modified their individual and joint behaviors when encountering novel objects with to-be-learned names, which created clearer signals that reduced referential ambiguity and potentially facilitated word learning.

The exchange of meta-information has always formed part of information behavior. In this article, we show that this rule also extends to conversational search. Information about the user’s information need, their preferences, and the quality of search results are only some of the most salient examples of meta-information that are exchanged as a matter of course in a search conversation. To understand the importance of meta-information for conversational search, we revisit its definition and survey how meta-information has been taken into account in the past in information retrieval. Meta-information has gone by many names, about which a concise overview is provided. An in-depth analysis of the role of meta-information in search and conversation theories reveals that they provide significant support for the importance of meta-information in conversational search. We further identify conversational search datasets are suitable for a deeper inspection with regard to meta-information, namely, Spoken Conversational Search and Microsoft Information-Seeking Conversations. A quantitative data analysis demonstrates the practical significance of meta-information in information-seeking conversations, whereas a qualitative analysis shows the effects of exchanging different types. Finally, we discuss practical applications and challenges of meta-information in conversational search, including a case study of VERSE, an existing search system for the visually impaired.

BACKGROUND: eHealth literacy can affect one’s health behavior through the intention to motivate individuals and allow them to make health-related choices. AIM: This study aimed to examine the association between eHealth literacy and self-care behavior among youths in Yogyakarta during the coronavirus disease pandemic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 455 never-married youths aged 15–24 years who lived in Yogyakarta Province completed the online survey that was conducted from October 5 to October 19, 2020. There were some indicators measured in the survey: eHealth Literacy, health information-seeking behavior, the intention of health maintenance, self-maintenance of health behavior, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and attitude toward health maintenance. Path analysis was conducted to determine the influencing factors of eHealth literacy and self-care behavior. RESULTS: Five in 10 youths accessed the internet more than 4 hours a day, though more than half of youths had low eHealth literacy levels. Intention (β = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.01–0.18; p = 0.037), perceived behavioral control (β = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.38–0.54; p ≤ 0.001), and subjective norms (β = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.16–0.33; p ≤ 0.001) had a significant positive direct effect on youth self-care behavior. Attitude indirectly affects self-care behavior through the intention (β = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.39–0.53; p ≤ 0.001) together with eHealth literacy (β = 0.11; 95% CI= 0.04–0.18; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Health literacy does not explicitly affect youths’ self-care behavior, but it becomes crucial when it builds youths’ intention to behave healthier. The positive impact of intention to enhance self-health care seems to have occurred only if eHealth literacy was adopted.

Purpose This study aims to use the anger activism model as an audience segmentation tool in the context of the anti-vaccination movement. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a national purposive sample (N = 438). Findings The group with high anger, strong efficacy (i.e. “activists”) was found to be more likely to engage in information seeking and was more accurate and defense-motivated when examining information about anti-vaxxers compared to other groups. Importantly, activists were more likely to engage in both low and high commitment behaviors to change vaccine policy. Originality/value As anti-vaxxers have proven to be difficult to change attitudinally, future campaigns are more likely to succeed if they leverage pro-vaccine audiences to fight for change. However, the understanding of the various segments within the pro-vaccination audience is limited. The data are discussed regarding leveraging high anger, strong efficacy audiences as change agents in future persuasive campaigns.

Background The use of dietary and herbal supplements (DIHES) is widespread among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). PwMS are a highly informed patient group, and they use several types of sources to seek information on subjects related to their disease. However, it is still unknown where PwMS seek information about DIHES. It is important that PwMS make decisions about DIHES based on accurate, useful and accessible information. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore where PwMS seek information on DIHES and how they experience and engage with this information. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eighteen PwMS using DIHES. Participants were selected from a cross-sectional survey. Diversity sampling was used, based on relevant characteristics such as gender and number of DIHES used during the past 12 months. The interviews were conducted face-to-face or over the telephone and lasted between 30 min and 1 hour. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic network analysis in NVivo 12 Pro software. Results Three main themes emerged in the analysis: i) engaging with healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding DIHES, ii) social networks as a source of information regarding DIHES, and iii) reliance on bodily sensations. Most participants navigated all three types of sources. All participants had at some point discussed DIHES with an HCP. Information from HCPs was considered reliable and valuable, but HCPs were viewed as uncommitted to the dialogue about DIHES. Recommendations from others were often the driver of decisions regarding use of DIHES. However, the information from PwMS’ networks could be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. Finally, PwMS relied on their own experiences regarding DIHES and let their bodily sensations guide their use of DIHES. Conclusions Participants often rely on all three types of information sources to create a nuanced and comprehensive information base. However, PwMS may feel overwhelmed or confused with all the information they have gathered. These findings indicate the need for better guidance for PwMS concerning DIHES and an openness among HCPs to engage in dialogue.

Objective Despite being key to reducing the occurrence of pre-eclampsia in high-risk women, adherence to aspirin prophylaxis is low, reflecting multifactorial challenges faced by pregnant women. It is therefore important to understand the barriers and facilitators of aspirin adherence in pregnancy. This sub-analysis of a qualitative study conducted to better understand barriers and facilitators of aspirin adherence was set to describe informational needs related to aspirin use in pregnancy. Study design A qualitative study was conducted with 14 postnatal women from North-East of England, who declared various levels of non-adherence to aspirin (0–5/7 prescribed). A thematic framework analysis of semi-structured interviews was used. Outcome measures Emerging themes associated with informational needs about aspirin use in pregnancy. Results Main themes identified a) Informational needs, b) Nature of the information seeking behaviour (active vs passive), c) Sources of information, d) Preferred format of information, e) Partners seeking knowledge. Not all women actively seek information; some choose not to pursue it as they find thinking of hypothetical risks disturbing. When information is accessed, women use a wide range of informational resources from scientific articles and National Health Services website to social media sources and word-of-mouth. Women admit that reading leaflets can be difficult, preferring to receive information in interactive ways. Although partners seek information about risks and risk reduction strategies, they are often not included in conversations with health care professionals. Conclusion New interactive and accessible informational resources are needed to engage pregnant women and their partners in aspirin prophylactic therapy.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to understand COVID-19 information seeking among Korean immigrant women in comparison to their flu/cold information seeking. In particular, the study aimed to examine: (1) the levels of information sought regarding both COVID-19 and the flu/cold, and (2) the content of information discussed at each level. Methods: We analyzed the posts on Missy USA––one of the largest Korean online communities for married Korean immigrant women. Two sets of data, one for COVID-19 (n=726) and the other for the flu/cold (n=50), were analyzed with codes at different levels, which were adapted from the social-ecological model. Results: Applying the social-ecological model, we found that about 80% of information regarding the flu/cold and about 60% of COVID-19 information was concentrated at individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels. Information seeking at the community level was more frequent for COVID-19 than for the flu/cold. Conclusions: Our finding that Korean immigrant women primarily sought information regarding COVID-19 serves as a theoretical contribution at the transnational level, which might be relevant for immigrant women during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

PurposeThis paper provides selective findings from a broader research project on information behaviours in serious leisure. This paper focuses on the positive feelings of information seeking and sharing in this context, aiming to capture and contextualise the joy of information embedded in and inspired by leisure activities.Design/methodology/approachThe required data were obtained using semi-structured interviews with 20 serious leisure participants from Wagga Wagga city in Australia, recruited via a maximum variation sampling technique. The data were fully transcribed and analysed based on a qualitative thematic analysis method.FindingsThe joy of information is embedded within a wide spectrum of information activities in serious leisure ranging from information seeking and browsing to information sharing and information creation. Among all these activities, information sharing with peers and a broader audience is the most joyful experience because it often generates social engagement, a sense of belonging and friendship. Moreover, serious leisure is a productive ground to transform hedonic wellness into eudaimonic well-being, while continuous information seeking and sharing play a significant role in achieving this goal.Practical implicationsInformation system designers can use the findings to consider the emotional aspects of information seeking and sharing to improve the usability of their products. At the policy level, cultural policy writers and decision-makers can make more informed decisions to support serious leisure.Originality/valueThis study explores the joyful aspects of information behaviour in a unique context. Exploring the joy of information is an emerging topic in human information behaviour scholarship, and the existing knowledge on this issue is still limited. This paper can contribute to creating new knowledge in this emerging area.

AIM The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between nurses' harmonious work passion and work-related internet information seeking. In doing so, we examine intrinsic motivation as an underlying mechanism of this relationship. BACKGROUND Nurses seek and utilize information to respond effectively to their tasks and to develop their skills and competencies. Internet consists one of the easiest and richest sources of information. Both nurses and organizations need to identify potential antecedents of work-related internet information seeking. METHODS Data were collected from 239 nurses and nurse assistants in a Greek University hospital and were analysed using bootstrap analysis with PROCESS macro. RESULTS Harmonious work passion was positively related to intrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation related positively to work-related internet information seeking. The mediating role of intrinsic motivation was also supported. CONCLUSIONS Nurses with harmonious work passion seek more regularly work-related information on the internet because they experience high levels of intrinsic motivation. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Health care organizations and managers need to recruit passionate nurses and cultivate a workplace culture that will trigger higher levels of harmonious work passion. Recruitment tools and methods such as interviews, situational judgement tests or role playing could be very beneficial towards uncovering potential candidates with an elevated passion for their work.

PurposeThis study examines whether learning climate relates to employability competences through social informal learning (i.e. feedback, help and information seeking).Design/methodology/approachMultiple regression analyses and structural equation modeling were used to test direct and indirect effects in a sample of 372 employees working in two Dutch governmental institutes.FindingsThe analyses confirmed that learning climate has an indirect effect on employability competences through feedback, help and information seeking. More specifically, the findings suggest that learning climate is important for employees' engagement in proactive social informal learning activities. Engaging in these learning activities, in turn, relates to a higher level of employability.Originality/valueThis study employs an integrative approach to understanding employability by including the organization's learning climate and employees' social informal learning behavior. It contributes to the extant literature on professional development by unraveling how proactive social informal learning relates to employability competences. It also provides new insights on learning climate as a determinant for social informal learning and employability.

PurposeAlthough uncertainty has been identified as a key crisis characteristic and a multi-faceted construct essential to effective crisis management research and practice, only a few studies examined publics' perceived uncertainty with a focus on crisis severity uncertainty, leaving crisis responsibility uncertainty uninvestigated in organizational crisis settings.Design/methodology/approachTo close this research gap empirically, this study employed data from an online survey of a total of 817 US adults to examine how participants' crisis responsibility uncertainty and their attribution-based crisis emotions might impact their crisis responses such as further crisis information seeking.FindingsFirst, findings show that participants' crisis responsibility uncertainty was negatively associated with their attribution-independent (AI) crisis emotions (i.e. anxiety, fear, apprehension and sympathy) and external-attribution-dependent (EAD) crisis emotions (i.e. disgust, contempt, anger and sadness), but positively associated with internal-attribution-dependent (IAD) crisis emotions (i.e. guilt, embarrassment and shame). Second, crisis responsibility uncertainty and AI crisis emotions were positive predictors for participants' further crisis information seeking. Third, AI crisis emotions and IAD crisis emotions were parallel mediators for the relationship between participants' crisis responsibility uncertainty and their further crisis information seeking.Practical implicationsOrganizations need to pay attention to the perceived uncertainty about crisis responsibility and attribution-based crisis emotions since they can impact the decision of seeking crisis information during an ongoing organizational crisis.Originality/valueThis study improves uncertainty management in organizational crisis communication research and practice, connecting crisis responsibility uncertainty, attribution-based crisis emotions and publics' crisis information seeking.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the status quo of digital poverty among adolescents in China, analyze the characteristics and the causes, then propose countermeasures to provide reference for alleviating digital poverty among adolescents.Design/methodology/approachThe study developed an initial scale of digital poverty among adolescents and used survey data to revise the scale, on this basis, formed a questionnaire, which was distributed to nationwide adolescents. The study developed its findings from the 837 valid questionnaire respondents.FindingsThe digital poverty among adolescents is mainly shown in the poverty of digital ability, digital psychology and digital environment and presents the following characteristics, that is, insufficient information seeking ability and information selection ability needing to be improved; equipped with basic information awareness but lack of information evaluation ability; lack of patience in obtaining information and inclined to the principle of least effort; imperfect knowledge structure and immature psychological emotions and vulnerable to external interference; having a certain relationship with the information environment, but not significantly affected by regional economic differences. Finally, the study puts forward countermeasures to alleviate digital poverty among adolescents.Practical implicationsUnderstanding of the digital poverty among adolescents will likely demand rethinking into a number of issues ignored by information poverty studies.Originality/valueFew studies focus on digital poverty among adolescents. This study developed an initial scale of digital poverty among adolescents and revised it by survey data, then conducted an empirical study through questionnaire, which could expand the understanding of information poverty in the field of library and information science.

Researchers studying curiosity and interest note a lack of consensus in whether and how these important motivations for learning are distinct. Empirical attempts to distinguish them are impeded by this lack of conceptual clarity. Following a recent proposal that curiosity and interest are folk concepts, we sought to determine a non-expert consensus view on their distinction using machine learning methods. In Study 1, we demonstrate that there is a consensus in how they are distinguished, by training a Naïve Bayes classification algorithm to distinguish between free-text definitions of curiosity and interest (n = 396 definitions) and using cross-validation to test the classifier on two sets of data (main n = 196; additional n = 218). In Study 2, we demonstrate that the non-expert consensus is shared by experts and can plausibly underscore future empirical work, as the classifier accurately distinguished definitions provided by experts who study curiosity and interest (n = 92). Our results suggest a shared consensus on the distinction between curiosity and interest, providing a basis for much-needed conceptual clarity facilitating future empirical work. This consensus distinguishes curiosity as more active information seeking directed towards specific and previously unknown information. In contrast, interest is more pleasurable, in-depth, less momentary information seeking towards information in domains where people already have knowledge. However, we note that there are similarities between the concepts, as they are both motivating, involve feelings of wanting, and relate to knowledge acquisition.

The study is intended to explore COVID-19 information seeking and utilization among women in Warri Metropolis, Delta State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted using a self-constructed questionnaire to collect data. Data were analyzed using simple percentages. Findings revealed that a majority of the women need information on COVID-19 preventive measures, followed by causes of the pandemic; Internet is the source of COVID-19 information used by the highest number of respondents, followed by television and social media; a majority of them consider the authority of the source of the information on coronavirus followed by usefulness of the information; a majority access COVID-19 information to enable them identify symptoms of the disease followed by protection against COVID-19 infection while concern for reliability of much of the available information on the pandemic was a major barrier to their utilization of COVID-19 information. It is recommended that effort should be made by government to get mobile network operators to reduce network tariff.

PurposeA significant body of literature suggests that shipping companies operate in an extremely volatile and risky environment, relying on the effective use of information to remain competitive. However, decision-making in this market is demanding because of the high uncertainty, market competition and significant capital investments. Moreover, the rapid spread of COVID-19 renders information uncertainty a daunting challenge for companies engaged in global trade. Hence, this study aims to explore the information behavior of managers in a time of crisis seems compelling.Design/methodology/approachThis study provides novel insights into the information behavior of senior managers by adopting a qualitative approach. Forty-nine semi-structured face-to-face interviews with individuals from Hellenic shipping companies were conducted. Moreover, this study explores the extant theory qualitatively, using the grounded theory methodology and shows that an unprecedented event (pandemic crisis) can redefine the information behavior of managers.FindingsThis study highlights the importance of information in decision-making. Moreover, the results show that, during a pandemic, managers resort to alternative information sources, adopt collaborative information behaviors and take advantage of digital technology.Originality/valueThere is limited research in exploring the information behavior of managers in times of pandemics. This research underscores the fact that during a crisis, managers seek information from digital information resources and decision-making assumes a more decentralized form. This study concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

BACKGROUND The increasing incidence of cancer among young adults (18-40 years old) is of concern in China. OBJECTIVES This study aims to examine the influence of cancer information-seeking behaviours (CISB) on young adults' worries about cancer and participation in screening. METHODS This study analysed data from two probability sample surveys conducted in 2012 and 2017 in China. The questions in the questionnaire remained the same for better comparison. The sample size was 1212 in the 2012 survey, and 2178 in the 2017 survey. RESULTS From 2012 to 2017, among young adults, there was a decline in cancer information seeking, diversity of cancer information sought and cancer worry, while an improvement in cancer information-seeking experience was found. Also, CISB had significant associations with cancer worry and health screening over the 5 years. DISCUSSION The level of young adults' cancer information seeking remains low in China, and this group is not fully aware of their potential risks of getting cancer. CONCLUSION Although young adults find the experience of looking for cancer information easier in 2017, health campaigns may be necessary to encourage young adults to find out more about their cancer risks, and to participate more in health screening.

Purpose: The subject of this article is the identification and evaluation of communicated values and values actually declared by consumers' gender and age. Design/Methodology/Approach: The article presents a research approach based on a literature query and empirical research. Beginning by presenting the essence of both material and non-material values in marketing, the focus is on the values pyramid communicated by brands. The empirical research was conducted by the method of a diagnostic survey using a questionnaire on a representative sample of 1000 respondents. The principal research was preceded by a pilot survey. The research results were statistically processed using the Chi-square test of independence, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Kruskal–Wallis test, post-hoc Dunn test with Benjamini-Hochberg correction. Findings: The research analysis indicates differences in the assessment of declared and expected values towards cosmetic product brands between women and men, in particular concerning functional and life-changing values. The assessment of the declared and expected values also changes depending on age. Substantially different assessment is shown by the group of the youngest respondents. A particular difference is noticeable concerning the aesthetic value, the brand prestige and the heritage, tradition, as well as brand history. Practical Implications: To develop the brand management capability, organizations may benefit from cultivating processes that seek to meet the latent customer needs through explorative and proactive information seeking, and at the same time, pursuing processes that focus on capturing the existing customer and competitor trends in the market. Originality/Value: This study borrows from the existing research on market orientation, branding and brand management to argue that organizations are required to verify the actual expected values towards brands. Enterprises should also verify the consistency of the values declared by brands with those actually expected by consumers.

Humans seem to be inherently driven to engage in wordplay. An example is the creation of palindromes – sentences that read the same backward and forward. This activity can be framed as a curiosity-driven behaviour, in which individuals seek for information that serves no direct purpose and in the absence of external rewards. In this fMRI case study, an experienced palindrome creator was scanned while he generated palindromes with different levels of difficulty. Palindrome creation was alternated with resting periods and with a working memory task, both serving as control conditions. Relative to resting, palindrome creation recruited frontal domain-specific language networks and fronto-parietal domain-general networks. The comparison with the working memory task evidenced partial overlap with the multiple-demand cortex, which participates in solving a variety of cognitively challenging tasks. Intriguingly, greater difficulty during palindrome creation differentially activated the right frontopolar cortex (BA 10), a region that was also linked to palindrome resolution. The latter is consistent with exploratory behaviour – in this case, with seeking new but interdependent linguistic segments within a complex internal model (i.e., a palindromic structure)– and bears resemblance with brain substrates sustaining hard logical reasoning, altogether pointing to a commonplace for curiosity in discovering new and complex relations "This work was supported by the grant “Generación del Conocimiento” awarded to ARF (reference: PGC 2018-099859-B-I00), co-funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), which is part of the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) of Spain, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). PLC was funded with a pre-doctoral grant (FPU "Ayudas para la Formación de Profesorado Universitario") (reference: FPU15/05554) of Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (MECD). We also acknowledge support from MINECO and “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” grants PGC 2018-098676-B-100 (AG), RTI 2018-098322-B-100 (AG) and AGAUR project 2017SGR1049 (AG)"

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to identify design guidelines for online resources based on the subjective assessment criteria used by individuals to assess and process information resources. This method of creating design guidelines targeted at precise user groups has the potential to aid designers and developers to create more user-centred information resources.Design/methodology/approachThe authors gathered data using a prospective longitudinal study investigating the information behaviour of expectant and new mothers. Women were asked to report on their information-seeking activities in a series of semi-structured interviews covering pregnancy and early motherhood.FindingsThis research identified 15 assessment criteria that were utilised by women to assess and process information resources. The most popular resource criteria amongst participants were credibility and convenience, while completeness and relevance were the most popular information content criteria. The authors found that assessment criteria were not considered in isolation, with criteria such as formatting and search engine ranking impacting on participants' perception of other criteria.Practical implicationsThis research demonstrates the potential of linking a user groups subjective assessment criterion to design guidelines. The authors propose that these guidelines could be used to help design an online information resource. They could also be used to assess if an existing online resource met the needs of a user group. The methodology used in this study could be leveraged to create design guidelines for user groups.Originality/valueThis research uses subjective assessment criteria as a means of understanding how expectant new mothers process information resources. People use subjective judgements when processing information resources, and this should be incorporated into the design of information resources. Analysing longitudinal data allowed the authors to build a rich picture of how participants evaluated and compared different information resources.

While e-cigarette use increases in the U.S., people’s knowledge about e-cigarettes is limited. Information seeking may influence people’s knowledge about e-cigarettes. Using the risk perception attitude framework and the identity theory, this study examined if U.S. adult current smokers’ (n = 1,841) differing in perceived efficacy of switching completely to e-cigarettes, perceived risk of cigarette smoking, and smoking identity report different levels of intentions to seek information about e-cigarettes. Results revealed smokers with high perceived risk of smoking and perceived efficacy about switching completely to e-cigarettes (responsive group) reported strongest intentions to seek information about e-cigarettes (M = 5.41 on a 1–7 scale), followed by the group having low smoking risk perceptions and high e-cigarette efficacy beliefs (proactive group; M = 4.58), the group having high smoking risk perceptions and low e-cigarette efficacy beliefs (avoidance group; M = 3.18), and the group low on both factors (indifference group; M = 2.76). The differences between responsive group and proactive, avoidance and indifference groups were greater among smokers with high (M(diff) = 6.14) vs. low (M(diff) = 5.27) smoking identity. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings were discussed.

PurposeThis study aims to explore preadolescents' opinions of the social media marketing strategies hosted by libraries to promote collections.Design/methodology/approachAn experimental Facebook page was created with posts containing interesting animations, games and book recommendations. A questionnaire survey was administered to 262 preadolescents between 11 and 13 years old to seek their opinions about the posts, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to measure their acceptance of the marketing strategies.FindingsThe authors examined the effects of five marketing strategies: word-of-mouth marketing, buzz marketing, event marketing, viral marketing and gamification marketing. In terms of sharing, word-of-mouth marketing proved the most popular, followed by buzz marketing. Participants were least accepting of viral marketing. The authors found that gamification marketing resulted in higher engagement than did event marketing. The preadolescent participants preferred engagement marketing strategies over information sharing strategies.Originality/valueAccording to the uses and gratification theory, preadolescents seek, share and engage with information in ways that differ from other age groups. With specific reference to hedonic engagement by preadolescents, the authors built a two-fold model to describe the information-seeking behaviors of preadolescents from the perspective of marketing strategies. The study findings indicate that librarians who use Facebook to promote library collections should first employ gamification and word-of-mouth marketing to build trust with preadolescent users. Event and buzz marketing will then be more effective when applied within the context of this trust.

The impacts of COVID-19 are not evenly distributed in society. Understanding demographic and occupational differences in personal experiences and information seeking and how these shape perceptions of COVID-19 related risk may help to improve the effectiveness of public health strategies in the future. We surveyed a nationally representative sample of 496 participants during the first UK lockdown, in May 2020. We recorded data to assess people’s experiences of the pandemic, examining how they varied with demographic factors such as age, gender, occupational status, and key worker status. We also recorded data on COVID-19 related information seeking, and how experiences and information seeking behaviours were related to perceptions of COVID-19 related risk. We found that key workers reported greater exposure to COVID-19 and more extensive experience of the virus within their social circles. Those key workers who perceived their personal protective equipment to be more effective felt that the virus was less of a threat to their lives. Trust in COVID-19 information was highest in information from the UK Government and NHS, and lowest in information from social media. We also found that men reported lower levels of perceived threat to life from the virus than women – a difference that mirrors the gender difference in occupational risk within our sample. Among those in employment, lower occupational class was also associated with higher levels of perceived risk of infection and perceived threat to life. Key workers who feel that they are insufficiently protected by their PPE experience increased levels of perceived threat, which may lead to negative health behaviours. This highlights the need for employers to ensure that key workers feel they are adequately protected from COVID-19. Our findings highlight some of the inequalities in the distribution of risk across society and discuss demographic differences in perceptions of risk.

Aversion to uncertainty about the future has been proposed as a transdiagnostic trait underlying psychiatric diagnoses including obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalised anxiety. This association might explain the frequency of pathological information-seeking behaviours such as compulsive checking and reassurance-seeking in these disorders. Here we tested the behavioural predictions of this model using a non-instrumental information-seeking task that measured preferences for unusable information about future outcomes in different payout domains (gain, loss, and mixed gain/loss). We administered this task, along with a targeted battery of self-report questionnaires, to a general-population sample of 146 adult participants. Using computational cognitive modelling of choices to test competing theories of information valuation, we found evidence for a model in which preferences for costless and costly information about future outcomes were independent, and in which information preference was modulated by both outcome mean and outcome variance. Critically, we also found positive associations between a model parameter controlling preference for costly information and individual differences in latent traits of both anxiety and obsessive-compulsion. These associations were invariant across different payout domains, providing evidence that individuals high in obsessive-compulsive and anxious traits show a generalised increase in willingness-to-pay for unusable information about uncertain future outcomes, even though this behaviour reduces their expected future reward. Author Note Daniel Bennett, Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University and Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne; Kiran Sutcliffe, Nicholas Poh-Jie Tan, and Luke D. Smillie, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne; Stefan Bode, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne and Department of Psychology, University of Cologne. This work was supported by an ARC Discovery Project grant (DP180102383) to SB. DB receives salary support from an NHMRC CJ Martin Early Career Fellowship (1165010). We thank Trevor Chong and Sam Zorowitz for comments on an earlier draft. De-identified behavioural and self-report data, as well as analysis code (for reproducing correlational analyses and Stan models) are publicly available in an Open Science Framework repository at https://osf.io/eg74d/ .

Seeking health information is becoming more convenient with various health resources online. It would be beneficial to explore the perception of individuals’ health status in relation to health information seeking and eHealth literacy. With government employees in Putrajaya found to be at high risk of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD), based on the high rate of obesity, it is beneficial to explore the factors associated with OHISB among this population in order to ensure adequate attainment and sharing of health information and self-management resources. The Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS) is used to measure the factors that influence online health information seeking behavior (OHISB). Based on previous studies, the CMIS is commonly used to examine cancer patient’s information seeking on health information behavior. However this paper will be focusing on government employee’s behaviour in using online information as their health reference. Previous studies have shown that information seeking has resulted in changes of behaviour of the cancer patients. It is believed that the outcome of this study will be beneficial in terms of developing strategies to encourage a healthier lifestyle among this population in order to prevent the occurrence of NCDs. Therefore, this paper elaborates some of the theories used in previous studies to enrich individual and community online health information seeking behavior and health knowledge dissemination. The findings of this study shows the direct relationships between trust in internet health and eHealth Literacy were significant towards OHISB. However, the direct relationships between direct experience, salience, unmet information needs and self-efficacy belief towards OHISB were not significant. Keywords: Comprehensive model of information seeking, online health information seeking behaviour, non-communicable diseases, ehealth literacy, government employees. https://doi.org/10.17576/JKMJC-2021-3701-24

The development of increasingly sophisticated technology is driving the era of industrial revolution 4.0, impacting Indonesian millennials entering the era of the digital economy, artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, and so on, or known as disruptive innovation phenomenon. The development of entry-level managers shows that in 2011, the company's demand was smaller than the availability of first-level managers. While it is estimated that in 2020, the company's demand will be greater than the availability of first-tier managers. This causes Indonesia to experience a gap between the needs and availability of managers both in quality and quantity of 40 to 60 percent. This study emphasized on the identification of general managerial competency knowledge, competencies seen from the frequency of managerial competency knowledge use Managerial competency identification is carried out using semi-open questionnaires, in the form of assessment of 14 manager competencies contained in generic competency model of managers from Spencer & Spencer (1993) as a reference list of competency assessment. This study used a sample of some students who were in the 7th semester as many as 192 students. The results of this study showed the highest order of Knowledge Managerial Competency occupied by Analytical Thinking (Impact and Influence) while the lowest order occupied by Developing Other (Developing others), as well as low knowledge of competency impact influence, initiative, and information seeking in students of study programs majoring in management.

The information technology revolution is affecting schools on a broader basis than just libraries. Teachers, administrators and educational technology specialists are all espousing expanded roles to address the new opportunities with the result that responsibilities are beginning to overlap and roles are becoming blurred. In this paper the importance of defining a specific “patch” for the school librarian is stressed and criteria for the development of the “patch” are suggested.

Is a developing country like Nigeria information rich or information poor? The first impression is of scarcity, but a closer examination reveals unexplored riches. There is a wealth of information in the oral tradition, but it is not found in schools and libraries. There is information in libraries, but language and reading level make it inaccessible to school children. What role might libraries play in resolving the information dilemma in Nigerian primary schools? This paper explores the use of resource generation from oral tradition, and information repackaging from oral and written sources, in creating an information and knowledge rich environment for all children.

The present study aimed to test a model of relations to ascertain the determinants of distress caused by lockdown for COVID-19. It was hypothesized that the exposure to the COVID-19 increased distress directly and through the mediation of worry, health-related information seeking, and perception of the utility of the lockdown. It was also expected that higher levels of ambiguity intolerance corresponded to higher distress directly and through the mediation of worry, health information seeking behaviors, and perceived utility of the lockdown. Finally, it was expected that risk aversion positively influenced distress directly and through the increasing of worry, health-related information seeking behavior, and more positive perception of the utility of the lockdown The study was conducted in Italy during the mandatory lockdown for COVID-19 pandemic on 240 individuals (age range 18–76). Data recruitment was conducted via snowball sampling. COVID-19 exposure was positively associated with worry and health-related information seeking. Risk-aversion was positively associated with health-related information seeking and perceived utility of the lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. Worry and health-related information seeking were positively associated with distress, whereas the perceived utility of the lockdown was negatively associated with distress. Intolerance for the ambiguity was directly linked to distress with a positive sign. Findings suggest that risk aversion represents both a risk factor and a protective factor, based on what kind of variable mediates the relationship with distress, and that the intolerance to the ambiguity is a risk factor that busters distress.

An experiment with 413 US participants was conducted to examine the role of animation in environmental journalism. Results show that there was no consistent modality effect (live-action vs. animati...

The present study is focused to study profile characteristics of Youth in Dairying Telangana State. A total of 220 respondents were selected across the state and interviewed. Most of the respondents belonged to the age group of 30-35 years, male, possessed high school level of education, belonged to nuclear family with small family size up to 5 members, were small farmers with medium livestock possession and high level of dairy farming experience, medium level of milk production and annual income, low level of training received, medium level of marketing behaviour, low level of participation in extension activities, medium level of information seeking behaviour and knowledge on improved dairy farming practices.

Digital technologies are part of many children’s everyday lives. They use them for entertainment, information seeking and connecting with friends on social media. These shifts in children’s literacy practices have impacted the ways in which they learn. As more children are engaged with digital technologies, critical literacy practices are vital, particularly in our current “fake news” and misinformation era. This paper describes a case study that examined a class of elementary grade students’ engagement with critical literacy practices during their problem-based learning (PBL) projects in science classrooms. A group of English language learners (ELLs) in this classroom have attracted our attention throughout our study, particularly the unique ways they engage with critical literacy practices. Our findings suggest that students are using their critical literacy skills for evaluating the validity of online information and sources during their problem-based learning projects. We conclude with suggestions to support elementary science teachers who are interested in integrating critical literacy practices within a problem-based learning approach.

The existing research routinely measures the influence of health information-seeking behavior (HISB) as a whole, which does not capture the complexity and diversity of media channel usage in HISB. The influence of HISB on patient’s lifestyle behaviors and the mediation process through patient-centered communication (PCC) in medical encounters has been understudied in previous literature. Drawing from Street’s three-stage model, this study conducted a secondary analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey in China to investigate the influences of HISB across five different media outlets (e.g. information-oriented media, entertainment-oriented media, search engines, social media and mobile health applications) on two types of healthy lifestyles (e.g. physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption), by the mediation of PCC. PROCESS path-analysis with bootstrapping estimation was used to test the hypothesized relationships. The results revealed that HISB is positively related to PCC, and PCC positively predicts frequent engagement in healthy lifestyles. Moreover, PCC partially mediates the effect of information-oriented media HISB on healthy lifestyles and fully mediates the effect of HISB through the other four media sources. This study highlights the essential stage of PCC transferring HISB to engagement in healthy lifestyles and draws attention to the varying influences of media channels carrying different characteristics.