Characteristics of human perception and their relevance when studying information behavior
| Published date | 08 July 2014 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-05-2012-0064 |
| Pages | 562-574 |
| Date | 08 July 2014 |
| Author | Christopher Peter Lueg |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Records management & preservation,Document management |
Characteristics of human
perception and their relevance
when studying information
behavior
Christopher Peter Lueg
Information & Interaction Research Group, University of Tasmania,
Hobart, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight findings regarding human perception in allied
disciplines and to argue that information behaviour research needs to find ways to address human
characteristics that imply that: first, subjects are likely to fail to recognize information that is present
in an environment and potentially relevant to a task at hand; and second, subjects would not be able to
report on the fact that they failed to recognize the information. The authors also discuss as to how
information behaviour research can address the aforementioned challenges resulting from human
movement and perception.
Design/methodology/approach – The author draws on the literature primarily in cognitive science
and psychology to highlight the findings that are most relevant to the scientific study of information
behaviour, to develop a model of the information environment in which information behaviour is
situated, and to critically examine how data is collected in information behaviour research. Ways to
provide more comprehensive information about information behaviour are also discussed.
Findings – The literature in cognitive science and psychology suggests that failing to notice
information relevant to a task at hand may not be the exception but to be expected, and needs to be
taken into account by information behaviour researchers. Popular data collection methods including
questionnaires and interviews do not pick that up because subjects would not be aware of the fact
which means in turn that they cannot articulate the fact either. This suggests that: first, cur rent
models of information behaviour focus too much on one side of the coin; and second, information
behaviour researchers may need to complement their data collection methods with data collection
methods such as gaze tracking.
Research limitations/implications – This is a conceptual paper based on the careful analysis of
relevant research primarily in cognitive science and psychology. Relating theory to practice provides a
strong indication of the general validity of the findings but there may be other aspects that have not
been covered as yet.
Originality/value – The paper is unique in that it critically reviews information behaviour research
from a human perception and movement point of view. There have been papers criticizing information
behaviour research from a methodological point of view. This paper adds to that body of work and
proposes a way forward.
Keywords Human computer interaction, Embodiment, Information behaviour, Perception,
Human computer confluence, Situated cognition
Paper type Conceptual paper
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0022-0418.htm
Received 23 May 2012
Revised 13 April 2013
Accepted 29 April 2013
Journal of Documentation
Vol. 70 No. 4, 2014
pp. 562-574
rEmeraldGroup PublishingLimited
0022-0418
DOI 10.1108/J D-05-2012-0064
The author would like to thank the anonymous reviewe rs for their insightful an d
thought-provoking comments and colleagues, students and friends fo r their feedback
and their patience when commenting on early versions of the manuscript. Early aspects of the
embodied information behaviour perspective were developed some 15 years ago while the author
was with the AI Lab at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Participating for several years in
the Global ShanghAI Lectures on Natural and Artificial Intelligence (shanghailectu res.org)
provided a constant reminder that there was still an article waiting to be written.
562
JDOC
70,4
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