INLS 180: Human Information Interactions

Fall 2003 (Section 001)

Updated 28 Oct 2003: Finalized through end of semester
Updated 5 Oct 2003: Finalized all readings through Oct 27
Updated 11 September 2003: Finalized readings for sessions 6, 7, 9.
Updated 2 September 2003: Group assignments added to schedule.

ADDED LINK: Optional Discussion Forum for continuation of class discussions. I will post a few questions here after every class period. People are free to respond, or post their own questions.

This tentative schedule lists the assignments and readings for each of the topics we'll cover and is subject to revision (see course web page). Readings are listed in the order they should be read.

All readings are in the INLS 180 002 PAM box in the SILS library [PAM], on reserve in the SILS Library, or available on the Web. Some readings are available through the UNC Library's web site:

• E-Reserves: http://eres.lib.unc.edu/ (Use INLS 180 Sec 002, Deborah Barreau)
• E-journal index: http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/ejournal/

INTRODUCTION: BASIC CONCEPTS IN HUMAN INFORMATION INTERACTION

Understand course expectations.
Define several of the basic concepts of the course.
Identify the theoretical context and impetus for exploring human information interaction.

Session 1 (Aug 27), Course Introduction

Sept 1 - No Class (Labor Day holiday)

Session 2 (Sept 3), Perspectives on communication and fundamentals of interaction

• Pierce, J. (1972). Communication. Scientific American, 227(3):31-41. [PAM]
• Schramm, W. (1973). Channels and audiences. In Pool, I., Schramm, W., Maccoby, N., & Parker, E. (eds.), Handbook of Communication. Chicago: Rand McNally, 116-140. (read pages 116-124 only). [P90 .H293] [PAM, reserve, e-reserve, stacks]
• Pool, I.D.S. (1973). Communication Systems. In Handbook of Communication. Chicago: Rand McNally, pages 503-526. [e-reserve]

RECOGNITION AND IDENTIFICATION OF INFORMATION NEEDS

Define motivations for information seeking.
Identify and describe some of the barriers and problems people face when they seek information.
Identify and describe the theoretical concepts researchers in the field apply to these problems.

Session 3 (Sept 8), Causes/motivation for information seeking
Gabehart, Kennedy, Mahoney

• Wilson, T. (1997). Information behaviour: an interdisciplinary perspective. In Vakkari, P., Savolainen, R., and Dervin, B. (eds.). Information Seeking in Context. London: Taylor Graham, 39-50. [Z674.2 .I558 1996] [PAM, reserve, stacks]
• Belkin, N. (1980). Anomalous states of knowledge as a basis for information retrieval. Canadian Journal of Information Science, 5:133-143. [PAM]

Session 4 (Sept 10), Analyzing information needs and recognizing barriers
Carlos, Ciszek, Disque, Duda

• Dervin, B. & Nilan, M. (1986). Information needs and uses. Annual Review of Information Science & Technology, 21:3-33. [PAM, stacks]
• Chatman, E. (1996). The impoverished life-world of outsiders. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 47(3):193-206, 1996. [PAM, e-journals, journal stacks]
• Tannen, D. (1995). The power of talk: who gets heard and why. Harvard Business Review, 73:138-148. [PAM]

Session 5 (Sept 15), Understanding and articulating information needs
Avinger, Bhattacharyya, Moriarty, K. Wilson

• Taylor, R.S. (1968). Question negotiation and information seeking in libraries. College & Research Libraries, 29(3):178-194, 1968. [PAM, journal stacks]
• Solomon, P. (1997). Conversation in information-seeking contexts: A test of an analytical framework. Library & Information Science Research, 19(3):217-248. [PAM, e-journals, journal stacks]

RESOLVING INFORMATION NEEDS

Describe techniques, processes, and strategies people use as they seek answers to questions.
Explain how and why information behaviors may be affected by the information-seeking context.

Session 6 (Sept 17), Information seeking
Gee, Powers, J. Wilson

• Marchionini, G. (1995). Information-seeking perspective and framework. Information Seeking in Electronic Environments. NY: Cambridge University Press. Chapter 3, pages 27-60. [reserve, online: http://ils.unc.edu/~march/isee_book/Chapter_3.pdf]
• Kuhlthau, C. (1991). Inside the search process: information seeking from the user's perspective. Journal of the American Society of Information Science, 42:361-371. [e-journals]

Session 7 (Sept 22), Information retrieval: Analytical strategies
Fox, Herron, Pippin

• Marchionini, G. (1995). Analytical search strategies. Information Seeking in Electronic Environments. NY: Cambridge University Press. (Chapter 5, pages 76-99). [reserve, online: http://ils.unc.edu/~march/isee_book/Chapter_5.pdf]
• Bates, M. (1979). Information search tactics. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 30(4), 205-214. [PAM, journal stacks]
  NOTE: Focus on Introduction, The Concept of the Search Tactic section, and Table 1
• Drabenstott, K.M. (2003). Do nondomain experts enlist the strategies of domain experts? Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, 54 (9): 836-854. [e-journals]
  NOTE: Focus on p. 836-839 and Discussion section

Session 8 (Sept 24), Assignment 1 Discussion and Semester Review

***Assignment 1 Due: Understanding the Needs of Users

Session 9 (Sept 29), Information retrieval: Browsing
Bryson, Carlos, Elsas, K. Wilson

• Marchionini, G. (1995). Browsing strategies. Information Seeking in Electronic Environments. NY: Cambridge University Press. (Chapter 6, pages 100-138). [reserve, online: http://ils.unc.edu/~march/isee_book/Chapter_6.pdf]
• Chang, S-J. & Rice, R. (1993). Browsing: A multidimensional framework. In M. Williams (Ed.), Annual review of information science and technology (Vol. 28, pp. 231-276). White Plains, NY: Knowledge Industries. [PAM, stacks]
  NOTE: Focus on p.231-4 and p. 250-end
• Bates, M. J. (1989). The design of browsing and berrypicking techniques for the online search interface. Online Review, 13(5), 407-424. [PAM, journal stacks]

Session 10 (Oct 1), Information seeking contexts
Dimitrov, Disque, Duda, Moriarty

• Leckie, G.J., Pettigrew, K.E., and Sylvain, C. (1996). Modeling the information seeking of professionals: a general model derived from research on engineers, health care professionals, and lawyers. Library Quarterly, 66(2):161-193. [PAM, journal stacks]
• Weedman, J. (1992). Informal and formal channels in boundary-spanning communication. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 43(3):257-267. [PAM, e-journals, journal stacks]
• Williamson, K. (1998). Discovered by chance: the role of incidental information acquisition in an ecological model of information use. Library & Information Science Research, 20(1):23-40. [PAM, e-journals, journal stacks]

THE ROLE OF INTERMEDIARIES

Describe and understand the role and possible effects of intermediaries in information-seeking.
Describe the challenges intermediaries face in this role.

Session 11 (Oct 6), Methods and means of intermediation
Bhattacharyya, Kennedy, Mahoney, Zellers

• Roloff, M.E. (1981). Social exchange: key concepts. In Interpersonal Communication: The Social Exchange Approach. [PAM]
• Tibbo, H. (1995). Interviewing techniques for remote reference: electronic versus traditional environments. American Archivist, 58:294-310. [PAM]

Session 12 (Oct 8), Technology and intermediation
Ciszek, Elsas, Jones

• Brown, J.S. and Duguid, P. (2000). Agents and angels. In The Social Life of Information. pages 35-62. [PAM, reserve]
• Dewdney, P. and Ross (1994), Flying a light aircraft: reference service evaluation from a user's viewpoint. Reference Quarterly, 34(2):217-230. [PAM, reserve, journal stacks]
• Drenth, H., Morris, A., & Tseng, G. (1991). Expert systems as information intermediaries. Annual Review of Information Science & Technology, 26: 113-154. [PAM, stacks]

THE USE OF INFORMATION

Explain how the use of information differs from its retrieval.
Provide multiple definitions of relevance.
Describe several ways of measuring relevance and their benefits and drawbacks.

Session 13 (Oct 13), Assessment of value
Avinger, Bollinger, Fox, Webb

• Amento, B.L. (2000). Does authority mean quality? Predicting expert quality ratings of web documents. [PAM]
• Glover, E.J., Lawrence, S., Gordon, M.D., Birmingham, W.P. and Giles, C.L. (2001). Web search -- your way. Communications of the ACM, 44(12):97-102. [e-journals]
• Reeves, B. and Nass, C. (1996). The media equation: how people treat computers, television, and the new media like real people and places. [PAM]

Session 14 (Oct 15), Relevance Theory
Bellows, Elsas, Gee, Powers

• Schamber, L., Eisenberg, M.B., and Nilan, M.S. (1990). A re-examination of relevance: toward a dynamic, situational definition. Information Processing & Managment, 26(6):755-776, 1990. [PAM, journal stacks]
• Harter, S.P. (1992). Psychological relevance and information science. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 43(9):602-615. [PAM, journal stacks, e-journals]
• Mizzaro, S. (1997). Relevance: the whole history. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 48(9):810-832. [e-journals, journal stacks]

Session 15 (Oct 20), Relevance in Practice
Bryson, Gabehart, Moriarty, Webb

• Bateman, J. (1999). Modeling the importance of end-user relevance criteria. ASIS '99, Proceedings of the 62nd ASIS Annual Meeting, pages 396-406. [PAM]
• Wang, P. and White, M.D. (1999). A cognitive model of document use during a research project. Study II. Decisions at the reading and citing stages. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 50(2):98-114. [e-journals, journal stacks]
• Barry, C. L. (1998). Document representations and clues to document relevance. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 49(14):1293-1303. [e-journals, journal stacks]

Session 16 (Oct 22), Assignment 2 Discussion and Semester Review

Midterm Evaluation
***Assignment 2 Due: The Structure of Information

MIDTERM BREAK

THE DESIGN OF INFORMATION

Offer several definitions of information architecture; compare and contrast them.
Describe ways that access to and presentation of information are designed both consciously and non-consciously.
Explain how the design of information can affect its use.

Session 17 (Oct 27), Information architecture
Dimitrov, Herron, Carlos

• Rosenfeld, L. (2002). Information architecture: Looking ahead. JASIST, 53(10), 874-876. [e-journals, journal stacks]
• Haverty, M. (2002). Information architecture without internal theory: An inductive design process. JASIST, 53(10), 839-845. [e-journals, journal stacks]

THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION

Describe ways that information is shared within and between organizations.
Describe roles that technology can play in information dissemination.
Discuss unintended effects of technology (i.e., ways that technology has influenced the way we communicate that were unforeseen).

Session 18 (Oct 29), Diffusion theory, social network theory, and the sharing of technology
Bhattacharyya, Bollinger, Disque, Zellers

• Rogers, E. (1995). Elements of diffusion. In Diffusion of Innovations, 4th ed. NY: Macmillan. [PAM]
• Gladwell, Malcolm. (2000). The law of the few: Connectors, mavens, and salesmen (Ch 2). In: The Tipping Point: How little things can make a big difference. [PAM]
• Garton, L., Haythornthwaite, C., & Wellman, B. (1997). Studying online social networks. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 3(1) [online: http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue1/garton.html]

Session 19 (Nov 3), Tools of dissemination
Dimitrov, Griffey, Jones, Neilson

• Grudin, J. (1988). Why CSCW applications fail: Problems in the design and evaluation of organizational interfaces. Computer Supported Cooperative Work: Proceedings of the 1988 ACM conference on Computer-supported cooperative work, Portland, OR. [PAM, ACM Digital Library]
• Ackerman, M. S. (2000). The intellectual challenge of CSCW: The gap between social requirements and Technical Feasibility. Human-Computer Interaction, 15(2/3):181-206. [e-journals]

SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION

Describe the cycle of scholarly communication.
Explore some techniques used to measure the significance and impact of scholarly communication.
Identify the challenges facing those who are concerned with disseminating and sharing the results of scholarly communication.

Session 20 (Nov 5), The cycle of scholarly communication
Duda, Gabehart, Gee, Pippin

• Kling, R. & McKim, G. (1999). Scholarly communication and the continuum of electronic publishing. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 50(10):890-906. [e-journals, journal stacks]
• Garvey, W. D. & Griffith, B.C. (1967). Scientific communication: Its role in the conduct of research and the creation of scientific knowledge. American Psychologist 349-62. [PAM]

Session 21 (Nov 10), Technology and scholarly communication
Bellows, Ciszek, Griffey, K. Wilson

• Nasser, R. and Abouchedid, K. (2001). Problems and the epistemology of electronic publishing in the Arab World: the case of Lebanon. First Monday, 6(9). [online: http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue6_9/nasser/]
• Zhao, J. L. and Resh, V.H. (2001). Internet publishing and transformation of knowledge processes. Communications of the ACM, 44(12):103-109. [e-journals, ACM dig lib]

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXTS FOR COMMUNICATION

Identify ways that organizations and social groups influence information seeking and use.
Define the challenges facing individuals and organizations in distributed environments.

Session 22 (Nov 12), Information sharing in organizations
Avinger, Fox, Herron

• Moorhead, G., Ference, R., & Neck, C.P. (1991). Group decision fiascoes continue: Space Shuttle Challenger and a groupthink framework. Human Relations, 44(6):539-550. [PAM]
• Constant, D., Kiesler, S., & Sproull, L. (1994). What's mine is ours, or is it? a study of attitudes about information sharing. Information Systems Research, 5(4):400-421. [PAM, journal stacks]
• Sonnenwald, D.H. (1998). Perspectives of human information behavior: contexts situations, social networks, and information horizons. In Wilson, T.D. & Allen, D.K. (eds.). Exploring the contexts of information behaviour. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Research in Information Needs, Seeking, and Use in Different Contexts, 13-15 Aug. 1998, Sheffield, UK, London: Taylor Graham, 176-190. [Z674.2 .I558 1998] [PAM]

Session 23 (Nov 17), Technology and organizational communication
Bryson, Jones, Neilson, J. Wilson

• Ackerman, M.S. (1998). Augmenting organizational memory: A field study of Answer Garden. ACM Transactions on Information Systems, 16 (3): 203-224. [PAM, e-journals]
• Wellman, B. (2002). Designing the internet for a networked society. Communications of the ACM 45(5):91-96. [e-journals, ACM dig lib]
• Barreau, D. (2001). "Making do": adapting transaction systems to organizational needs. Library & Information Science Research, 23:27-43. [e-journals]

Session 24 (Nov 19), Communication costs
Powers, Webb, Zellers

• Cummings, J.N., Butler, B, and Kraut, R. (2002). The quality of online social relationships. Communications of the ACM 45(7):103-108. [e-journals, ACM dig lib]
• Dibbell, J. (1996). A rape in cyberspace: how an evil clown, a Haitian trickster spirit, two wizards, and a cast of dozens turned a database into a society. In Stefik, M. (ed.), Internet Dreams: Archetypes, Myths, and Metaphors. Cambridge: MIT Press, 293-315. [ZA3250 .U6 I58 1996] [PAM, reserve]

POLICY ISSUES

Explain how information systems support or undermine power structures and value systems.
Define intellectual property and describe how technology changes our understanding of it.

Session 25 (Nov 24), Power and ethics in information and technology systems
Bellows, Bollinger, Mahoney, Pippin

• Clarke, R. Internet privacy concerns confirm the case for intervention. Communications of the ACM, 42(2):60-67, 1999. [e-journals, ACM dig lib]
• Smith, H. J., & Hasnas, J. (1999). Ethics and information systems: the corporate domain. MIS Quarterly, 23(1), 109-127. [PDF, (180, b****n)]
• Huff, C. (1996). Unintentional power in the design of computer systems. Computers & Society, 26(4), 6-9. [ACM dig lib]

***Term Project Due

Session 26 (Nov 26), Ownership and protection of information
Griffey, Kennedy, Neilson, J. Wilson

• Gasaway, L. (1998). Copyright, the internet, and other legal issues. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 49(1):1003-1009. [PAM, journal stacks, e-journals]
• Samuelson, P. (1999). Good news and bad news on the intellectual property front. Communications of the ACM, 42(3):19-24. [e-journals, ACM dig lib]
• Samuelson, P. (2001). Toward a new politics of intellectual property. [e-journals, ACM dig lib]

THANKSGIVING BREAK

FINAL PRESENTATIONS

Synthesize existing literature in order to expose gaps and direct novel lines of questioning
Apply theoretical terms and concepts to a practical and/or professional question
Present finalized project work to an audience of colleagues
Be able to address questions and criticisms orally and on the spot

Session 27 (Dec 1), Final Presentations

• Avinger & Powers
• Herron & J. Wilson
• Bollinger, Ciszek, & Griffey
• Elsas & Webb

Session 28 (Dec 3), Final Presentations

• Bryson & Kennedy
• Fox & Moriarty
• Disque & Jones
• Gee & Nielsen

Session 29 (Dec 8), Final Presentations and Evaluations

• Bellows & Mahoney
• Dimitrov, Gabehart, & Zellers
• Bhattacharyya & Duda
• Carlos & K. Wilson

Christy Adessa Wilkens