INLS
180 Day 7 Notes
January
31, 2002
Big Points
Analytical search and browsing
Importance of user needs (concept of, assessing)
Info seeking process is iterative/ongoing
Outcomes also influence process [consequence of the
former point]
Define the problem is a crucial phase of IS process
[always in play]
Questions
How to manage the benefits of empirical data
collection (and/or analytical reasoning) with time requirements? [this is a
reason for libraries to exit]
How to minimize impact of the needs assessment
itself on user needs? [uncertainty principle]
How to do a reference interview?
Alternatives to search hit lists?
Don’t we learn from an unsuccessful search too?
Examples of needs assessment techniques? How to integrate into work?
How to structure info seeking to maximize learning?
[the teacher’s problem]
Studies on doing versus lookup for learning impact?
[John Dewey, Jerome Bruner, constructivism]
Which is more natural/pervasive, search or browse?
[run or walk? Stocks or bonds?]
How to assess needs of people who don’t know they
have needs? [note assumption of knowing what is best for others]
Won’t Berners’Lee’s semantic web end up as a
browsable front end for result lists? [YES! from user’s view]
How do information theories influence information
architecture? [a lot I hope!]
Are cookies a new form of needs assessment? [yes]
Belkin, N. J. (1980). Anomalous
states of knowledge as a basis for information retrieval. (Donald Sizemore and
Cynny Scott)
Chatman, Elfreda. (1996). The
impoverished life-world of outsiders. (JASIST online) (Christy Richards)
Taylor, R. S. (1968). Question-negotiation and information seeking in libraries. (Rebecca Rhodes)
4. One-minute
paper
What was the big point you
learned in class today?
What is the main, unanswered
question you leave class with today?