Toward Collaboration Between Toward Collaboration Between Information Seeking and Information Seeking and

Information RetrievalInformation Retrieval

Carol KuhlthauCarol KuhlthauProfessor IIProfessor II

School of Communication, School of Communication, Information and Library StudiesInformation and Library StudiesRutgers, the State University of Rutgers, the State University of

New JerseyNew Jerseykuhlthau@scils.rutgers.edukuhlthau@scils.rutgers.edu

cissl.scils.rutgers.educissl.scils.rutgers.eduwww.scils.rutgers.edu/~kuhlthauwww.scils.rutgers.edu/~kuhlthau

Field of Library and Information Field of Library and Information ScienceScience

LibrarianshipLibrarianship – cultural, social and educational;– cultural, social and educational;collection development, organization and collection development, organization and disseminationdissemination

User studiesUser studies – insight into user’s perspective in – insight into user’s perspective in variety of contextsvariety of contexts

Information retrieval and information systemsInformation retrieval and information systems – – innovation of information technologyinnovation of information technology

Four Imperatives for CollaborationFour Imperatives for Collaboration

Stay with a problemStay with a problem

Apply conceptual framework of LISApply conceptual framework of LIS

Develop collaborative research projectsDevelop collaborative research projects

Design application for implementationDesign application for implementation

Stay with a problem …Stay with a problem …

to verify findingsto verify findings

to test in variety of contextsto test in variety of contexts

to develop conceptsto develop concepts

Apply conceptual framework of LISApply conceptual framework of LIS

Examples of Fertile ConceptsExamples of Fertile Concepts

SensemakingSensemaking RelevanceRelevance UncertaintyUncertainty ASKASK IUEIUE EDIBEDIB

Two Concepts I have used-Two Concepts I have used-

Task ComplexityTask Complexity

Information GoalsInformation Goals

Develop collaborative research Develop collaborative research projectsprojects

Research that incorporates more than one areaResearch that incorporates more than one area

Vakkari – collaboration of IS and IRVakkari – collaboration of IS and IR

CISSL Rutgers Center for InternationalCISSL Rutgers Center for InternationalScholarship in School Libraries - Study of Impact of Scholarship in School Libraries - Study of Impact of school libraries on student learning school libraries on student learning

Design application for Design application for implementationimplementation

Some useful concepts for improving systems and Some useful concepts for improving systems and servicesservices

Browsing – ChangBrowsing – ChangBerrypicking – BatesBerrypicking – BatesChaining – EllisChaining – EllisMonitoring – ChooMonitoring – ChooResearch styles – HeinstromResearch styles – HeinstromFinding without seeking – Ross; ErdelezFinding without seeking – Ross; Erdelez

Zone of InterventionZone of Intervention

That area in which an information user can do with That area in which an information user can do with advice and assistance what he or she cannot do advice and assistance what he or she cannot do alone or can do only with great difficulty.alone or can do only with great difficulty.

Model of the Information Search ProcessModel of the Information Search Process

 

Tasks Initiation Selection Exploration Formulation Collection Presentation

Feelings uncertainly optimism confusion/ clarity sense of satisfaction or(affective) frustration/ direction/ disappointment

doubt confidence

Thoughts vague focused(cognitive)

increased interest

Actions seeking relevant information seeking pertinent information(physical) exploring documenting

Application for implementationApplication for implementation

Task oriented systemsTask oriented systems

‘‘Just for me’ approach to designJust for me’ approach to design

Guided Inquiry – preparing the next Guided Inquiry – preparing the next generation of usersgeneration of users

Four Imperatives for CollaborationFour Imperatives for Collaboration

Stay with a problem to develop conceptsStay with a problem to develop concepts

Apply conceptual framework of LISApply conceptual framework of LIS

Develop collaborative research projectsDevelop collaborative research projects

Design application for implementation in Design application for implementation in system designsystem design