Toward a unified model of human information behavior: an equilibrium perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to build a unified model of human information behavior (HIB) for integrating classical constructs and reformulating the structure of HIB theory. Design/methodology/approach This paper employs equilibrium perspective from partial equilibrium theory to conceptualization and deduction, starting from four basic assumptions. Findings This paper develops two models to incorporate previous HIB research approaches into an equilibrium-analysis-oriented information supply-demand (ISD) framework: a) the immediate-task/problem-based and everyday life information seeking (ELIS)-sense-making approaches are incorporated into the short-term ISD model; b) the knowledge-construction-oriented and ability-based HIB research approaches are elaborated by the long-term ISD model. Relations among HIB theories are illustrated via the method of graphical reasoning. Also, these two models jointly reveal the connection between information seeking in immediate problematic situations and long-term ...

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