Competency J

Preparation and Evidence

When I hear the term information-seeking behaviors, Adele Reid's INFO 200 Information Communities class comes to mind. I remember it clearly, almost as if it were yesterday, that I was learning about information-seeking behaviors through our observations of online communities. The course readings also guided our understanding of the subject. What was most interesting, however, is that as I was learning about information-seeking behaviors, I learned more about myself and examined my approach as I tackled research and information regarding information communities.

For this class, I focused my research on the Batman Fandom community. I was always interested in the villains of this DC universe, but with the release of Suicide Squad a month before taking the course and the ongoing series, Gotham, I figured acquiring information would come easy. The problem I encountered with the information-gathering process is that there was information everywhere on the web regarding Batman and their fans. Much like the users described by Kuhlthau, I felt overwhelmed with information and was unsure if my approach would provide accurate results. I filtered loads of information to obtain accurate results. This approach taught me that there seldom exists information regarding Batman fans. This practice was crucial in understanding the techniques that many users apply and the feelings they undergo as they search for information.

The evidence I have selected from this class is a publication from my school blog and my final class paper. Many of my posts for the class blog focused on Bat-fans, but the one relevant to Competency J is the first blog I posted, Information Behavior in Bat-fans. The blog post examines the information-seeking behaviors of Bat-fans through Kuhlthau's explanation of the Information Search Process (ISP). ISP is a six-step cycle that focuses on the actions and reactions of users.

Anyone studying Bat-fans will know that Bat-fans have a common understanding of the Gotham universe; however, graphic novels change through time, meaning that new characters emerge or that existing characters are transformed to fit the aesthetic of the current developing artists. These changes can prompt Bat-fans to develop basic questions regarding these changes, which as Kuhlthau explains, is the first step in the ISP model, initiation (1991). Information-seeking behaviors begin with an introductory question that prompts the user in identifying that there is a need for information in a subject area where very little is known. The second step in the ISP model, the selection process, requires users to shift their roles when they collect information (Kuhlthau, 1991), and for Bat-fans, this means engaging and selecting the information that best suits their needs. Perhaps they wanted to learn more about a particular character, so they condense their research to focus on that specific character and not all characters. It is during the selection process that users can aggregate more attributes to their initial question. As they explore collected data (fourth step in the ISP model), the user may feel dubious about the information they have encountered, which is normal. Part of the information-seeking behavior is the roller coaster of emotions one may feel as they come across a junction of information. However, as the user examines the information, they also reduce the amount of data to retain only the documents that satisfy their information needs. Condensing information can decrease doubts and form feelings of certainty, which allow users to interact at an intellectual level (Kuhlthau, 1991). In the final steps of ISP, collection, and presentation, users' engage in information use behavior, meaning that the data-retrieving process is complete and users have the option to share what they have learned. In the Batman Fandom community, users' present their data by engaging in forums where they can artistically and intellectually present the information they have gathered.

This blog post (Information Behavior in Bat-fans) evidently shows my competence for understanding information-seeking behaviors by analyzing the information search process and information use behaviors present in Bat-fans for the Batman Fandom community.

The second piece of evidence that demonstrates competency for information-seeking behaviors is the final paper I wrote for INFO 200 titled, Batman Fandom: An Analysis of their Information Seeking Behaviors. At the end of the semester, my studies and observations on the Batman Fandom community taught me that there isn't enough research on the subject. This paper encourages studies on the topic because, with new technological developments, fandom activity has spawned to various exteriors that enhance and evolve behavioral practices. Furthermore, the analysis made on the paper explains how current fandom behaviors are equivalent to the studies made by Durrance and Fischer, and Kuhlthau.

Fandom is a term used to describe how an individual expresses themselves artistically and intellectually in regards to a subject or topic in popular culture, nerd culture, or American culture. The fact that fandom is already a term used to highlight an individual's actions shows that there are stages to their behavior. As noted in my paper, collecting comics, collaborating in fanzines, engaging in cosplay, etc., are attributes of fandom behavior. The question now is, how do we put this in terms that satisfy our understanding of Competency J?

Information-seeking behavior is the process where the users will transform their passive behavior in order to adopt a participatory role as they acquire loads of information. Reading a comic book does not suffice in fandom behavior, let alone information-seeking behaviors, and that is why examining this information community became crucial. As noted in the blog post, when a fandom user comes across new information, they engage with data differently, and perceptions change. Fanzines are a great example of information-seeking behaviors because comic book artists would use them as forums to communicate and hear from the public. Ultimately, the information fans shared would aid artists in future story developments. Fanzines and forums have changed throughout the decades, and people focus on a variety of subjects, but it is a space where they can collect data, engage or challenge existing works or modern interpretations. Batman has undergone various changes throughout the years, and fans voice their opinions on the web, with fans across the world. They break the geographical barriers suggested by Durrance and Fischer and elevate their understanding of the topic as they communicate information to multiple users alike. A blog post on the film Suicide Squad could attract people to watch the film, or invoke previous audiences to engage in a debate regarding opinions of the film. These debates could have readers feeling dubious about the film, but ultimately they use this information to draw their own conclusions. These forums and blog posts exist for that purpose, to satisfy an information user need.

The third piece of evidence comes from Christine Hagar's INFO 281 Seminar in Contemporary Issues, Topic: Crisis/Disaster Health Informatics class. This course was truly eye-opening and taught me of a new career path for information specialists. Before taking this course, I would have never placed information specialists at the center of natural disasters or bio-hazards, and this class came at a perfect time, ironically.

I took this course during the Spring of 2018, which was around the same time Californians received notice about the Hepatitis A outbreak. The Hepatitis A outbreak came from San Diego to California, and I recall my friend was feeling paranoid because we had just taken a trip to San Diego a few months prior. Our other friend, who works security at a county hospital, immediately alerted us about the outbreak and suggested we get vaccinated. At the library, I was posting flyers with detailed information regarding symptoms and medical treatments for Hepatitis A, as our group text was happening. Receiving and posting the flyers in my library made me reflect on my current studies and the role information specialists play during times of viral outbreaks. When patrons inquired about vaccinations, the relevancy of the event to the course study felt like a true learning experience. It was interesting to observe how fast information regarding the outbreak hit Los Angeles and how quickly my friends and I had passed information regarding the subject, and how quick patrons turned to the library for information. Thankfully, none of us were victims of the outbreak; however, we remained informed and acquired more information regarding symptoms and possible threats during the weeks to come because there was a sense of fear floating in the air.

The post I have selected to fulfill this competency comes from our first blog post titled, Information Needs and Behaviors During a Time of Crisis. The blog post is a reflection of what was learned in class regarding a group of farmers during a virus outbreak while providing an analysis of their information behaviors. The farmers engaged in information-seeking behaviors when they realized there was a need for information regarding the virus outbreak. Many of the farmers knew very little about the foot-and-mouth disease, but they knew it was a subject that required attention. If we refer back to Kuhlthau's ISP model, every information-seeking journey begins with a basic question, regardless of whether you know information or not, and these farmers had expressed their need for information. Like many users, the farmers turned to various sources for information, many of which were informal. Reaching out to local farmers for information may seem practical but not ideal as they may come across gaps. As the farmers weave through the information retrieved, they engage in information-seeking behaviors because they are searching for the piece of data that will not only provide information about the viral outbreak but also suggestions on how to prevent its effects or treat those affected. Learning about the dangers of foot-and-mouth disease left the farmers with no other choice but to execute many of their animals.

As the class learned about the farmers and their investigative approach, we also learned that many of these farmers lived in remote areas where technology was not accessible. The lack of technology caused a delayed in the information gathering process, a barrier that allowed the outbreak to thrive. This example shows how crucial technology plays as a source that relays information. If we refer back to the Hepatitis A outbreak, group texting allowed us to pass information rather quickly, and there was legitimacy to our sources given our careers.

Observing how these farmers identified their need for information, the techniques they used to gather information, and the struggles they faced retrieving information demonstrates my understanding of Competency J. These farmers applied information-seeking behaviors for the following reasons: to understand what was killing the cows and sheep and to learn how to address the outbreak. The foot-and-mouth disease brought environmental and economic damage to these farmers.

Future Application

Information-seeking behaviors are crucial in any community, whether it be in real life or the virtual community, as seen in the examples above. Understanding how users engage in information-seeking behaviors can bring many opportunities for information specialists. For example, my interests and observations in public librarianship have taught me that reference questions are basic questions where the patrons show some or no prior knowledge regarding the subject their asking. The reference librarian can guide them in discovering what it is they truly need and appoint them to the right sources where they can weed information. The information can come from a book or online article; however, the end goal is to encourage information-seeking behaviors by giving them the materials where they can find the information instead of giving them direct answers.

I also experienced information-seeking behaviors during the Hepatitis A outbreak, which was a memorable learning experience. However, there have been other encounters which I can recall. During the 2016 election, many patrons expressed interest in the subject of citizenship due to their fear of deportation. Learning and experiencing the various ways in which people approach libraries for information demonstrates how libraries remain relevant in the information gathering process. Since libraries serve or play a role in the information gathering process, it is our duty to appoint patrons in the right direction. The point is not to intercept but to guide them during the process.

Lastly, observing the type of events that bring community members into the library can help librarians in their information-seeking behavior. The public librarian must understand the information needs of their community and plot ways to address the informational needs of the community. Citizenship inquiries propelled the adult librarian to collaborate with an organization that could provide additional information and financial aid for obtaining U.S. citizenship. This partnership addressed concerns expressed by community members and provided information to those seeking information. It is events and situations like these that allow me to apply what I have learned in my studies.