On contexts of information seeking

• Published in: Information processing & management Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 735 - 760
• Main Author: Johnson, J.David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2003; Elsevier Science; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Communication Context; Context; Context Clues; Context Dependence; Context Effect; Contingency theory; Exact sciences and technology; Framing; Information and communication sciences; Information processing and retrieval; Information Retrieval; Information retrieval. Man machine relationship; Information science. Documentation; Information Seeking; Information seeking behaviour; Information Systems; Online information retrieval; Online Searching; Online Systems; Research process. Evaluation; Sciences and techniques of general use; Search engines; Searching; Studies; Context; Information seeking; Contingency theory; Framing; Organization; Contingency Theory; Social sciences; Theoretical study; Information retrieval; Malignant tumor; Culture
• ISSN: 0306-4573; 1873-5371
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-4573(02)00030-4

While surprisingly little has been written about context at a meaningful level, context is central to most theoretical approaches to information seeking. In this essay I explore in more detail three senses of context. First, I look at context as equivalent to the situation in which a process is immersed. Second, I discuss contingency approaches that detail active ingredients of the situation that have specific, predictable effects. Third, I examine major frameworks for meaning systems. Then, I discuss how a deeper appreciation of context can enhance our understanding of the process of information seeking by examining two vastly different contexts in which it occurs: organizational and cancer-related, an exemplar of everyday life information seeking. This essay concludes with a discussion of the value that can be added to information seeking research and theory as a result of a deeper appreciation of context, particularly in terms of our current multi-contextual environment and individuals taking an active role in contextualizing.