Information Horizons presents the Information Horizons (IH) theory and method, provides examples of its use in research and teaching, and shows how it can be used in combination with other research methods.
Embracing the behavioral, cognitive, and social aspects of information seeking, sharing, and use, the IH research method is the first to originate in information science that uses a graphical data collection technique. The method has been used in numerous investigations around the globe, especially to learn from communities and domains not traditionally included in scientific research studies and to support UN Sustainable Development Goals. Offering study participants an opportunity to tell their story and to create a map that illustrates their information seeking patterns, the method is less intrusive and time-consuming than observational techniques. The book includes chapters by authors who have used the method and describe their use of it, including the benefits and challenges that they experienced. A toolkit chapter provides data collection and data analysis materials to facilitate use of the method. The book also includes chapters contributed by instructors who use the method in their teaching. These chapters provide details about how the theory and method are taught, with a special focus on hands-on exercises.
Information Horizons will be of interest to information science researchers, educators and practitioners worldwide