The connection between purposive information seeking and information encountering. A study of Icelanders' health and lifestyle information seeking
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411011023634 |
| Published date | 09 March 2010 |
| Pages | 224-244 |
| Date | 09 March 2010 |
| Author | Ágústa Pálsdóttir |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
The connection between
purposive information seeking
and information encountering
A study of Icelanders’ health and lifestyle
information seeking
A
´gu
´sta Pa
´lsdo
´ttir
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Iceland,
Reykjavı
´k, Iceland
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to explore health and lifestyle information seeking behaviour by
examining the connection between purposive information seeking and information encountering.
Design/methodology/approach – Data on purposive seeking and information encountering,
gathered from postal surveys in 2002 and 2007, were compared. Random samples of 1,000 Icelanders,
aged 18 to 80 were used. The response rate was 51 per cent in 2002 and 47 per cent in 2007. Based on
the purposive seeking in 22 sources, k-means cluster analysis was used to draw four clusters of
participants: passive, moderately passive, moderately active and active.
Findings – The results from 2007 and 2002 revealed the same kind of information seeking. The
findings indicate that information encountering is an integral feature of information seeking
behaviour. Information is encountered more often than sought on purpose by all clusters. Clusters that
were active in purposive information seeking were also active in information encountering and those
who were passive in either of the two styles of information seeking were also passive in the other.
Research limitations/implications – The response rates are considered satisfactory in postal
surveys. Nevertheless, when missing data in the cluster analysis are also considered it raises a
question about the validity of the findings. The findings of the studies, however, are strengthened by
the fact that respondents reflect the population fairly well.
Practical implications – Improved knowledge of information seeking and how different groups
within society can be reached more effectively is important for health promotion and public health
practice.
Originality/value – The paper uses quantitative methods to examine the connection between
purposive information seeking and information encountering.
Keywords Personal health,Lifestyles, Iceland, Informationsearches, Individual behaviour,
Information retrieval
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
A healthy population is one of the key factors in economic growth and prosperity of
nations (Subramanian et al., 2002; A
´sgeirsdo
´ttir, 2004). It is also known that a
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0022-0418.htm
The study reported was funded by the University of Iceland Research Fund. The author wishes
to acknowledge the contribution of The Social Science Research Institute, University of Iceland,
for assistance and statistical advice during data collection and analysis.
JDOC
66,2
224
Received 19 March 2009
Revised 14 July 2009
Accepted 18 July 2009
Journal of Documentation
Vol. 66 No. 2, 2010
pp. 224-244
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0022-0418
DOI 10.1108/00220411011023634
relationship exists between people’s economical situation and their health, with those
belonging to the higher income groups generally having a longer and healthier life
(Fuller-Thomson and Gadalla, 2008; Mansyur et al., 2008; Subramanian et al., 2002).
Among the factors leading to health inequality is the lifestyle choices people make,
with the lifestyles of those belonging to higher socio-economic groups generally being
more likely to generate good health than those of people belonging to lower
socio-economic groups (Norwegian Direktorate of Health, 2008). This raises a question
about the possible impact of the recent world economic crisis on the health and
wellbeing of individuals. It also calls attention to how vital it is to raise the population’s
awareness of the significance of healthy lifestyles. Many of the diseases burdening the
Icelandic population as well as other western populations have a strong lifestyle
component, e.g. unhealthy diet, lack of physical exercise, smoking and alcohol
consumption (Public Health Institute of Iceland, 2007; World Health Organization,
2005). Furthermore, the importance of making the right behavioural choices for
maintaining health and the joint responsibility of individuals and society in this matter
has been emphasised (A
´sgeirsdo
´ttir, 2004; Wikler, 2002).
The objective of this article is to provide insight into information seeking behaviour
with regard to health and lifestyle information by examining the interaction between
purposive information seeking and information encountering. Health and lifestyle refer
to the personal lifestyle choices made by people normally thought of as healthy and the
impact this can have on their health and wellbeing (Pa
´lsdo
´ttir, 2009). The means of
information seeking and dissemination have undergone huge changes in recent years,
and people have multiple options for seeking information about health and lifestyles.
Accordingly, the various ways and methods people use to seek information in everyday
life have captured researchers’ attention. Based on a review of the literature, it is
assumed that information seeking can be broadly divided into two information-seeking
styles: purposive information seeking, characterized by people deciding they have a
knowledge gap and acting on this decision by seeking information lacking; and then
there is information encountering, which can be described as instances when, for
example, people happen to come across information although they were not seeking it.
1.1 Health promotion and the importance of information seeking
Health behaviour and health promotion have received increasing consideration in recent
years. The purpose of health promotion is to enable individuals “to increase control over,
and improve, their health” (World Health Organization, 1998). This requires society to
provide the necessary means and support to enable all its members to gain the knowledge
and skills necessary to take active care of their health. Health information is a vital tool for
promoting health and raising the quality of life. According to Bandura (1997) knowledge
about health risks and the outcome of health behaviour is a necessary precondition for
making behavioural changes. This is supported by Margetts et al. (1997), who found a
link between having access to sources of information and knowledge about healthy
behaviour, and Kassulke et al. (1993), whofound that those practicing healthier behaviour
also make more effort to seek information. Thus, by seeking information on health issues,
people have the opportunity to take more responsibility for their own health.
Although there are some signs that an increase in media reporting about health
issues can lead to greater public awareness of the importance of healthy behaviour
(Epstein et al., 1997), there are also indications that health promotion efforts have not
Icelanders’
information
seeking
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