From Systems to Users: A Brief Evolution of Information Behavior

A shift from System-Oriented to User-Centered Approach

In the early days of information science, research was largely system-oriented focusing on optimizing information systems, databases, and technologies, with users seen as generic recipients of information. The priority was to improve retrieval performance and deliver more information, often assuming that more was always better. By the 1970s-1980s, scholars began calling for a user centered approach that put people's needs and contexts at the forefront as stated by case informationr.net. This user centered approach shifted the trajectory from the information system to a person as seeker and brainstormer informationr.net. in summary information evolved from asking how is the system being used and by whom?" to "how and why do users seek information?"


There are a number of differences between the two approaches as far as studying information behavior is concerned.

  1. Information View: A system oriented view treated information as an objective commodity that could be misjudged where as the user centered view understands information's value is situational (meaning it matters how information fits the persons problem or experience).
  2. Role of the User: In the system view, users were often seen as motionless targets( regarded as NPC's) of information delivery, assumed to behave in very obvious ways, in contrast, the person-oriented view sees users as driving forces who strategize, seek, and understand information to fill a knowledge gap.
  3. Research Methods: System view studies relied on quantitative methods where as  person oriented view relied on qualitative methods.

Myths of Information Behavior
The transformation from system to user view meant going through some information myths about how people seek and use information. Brenda Dervin identified several myths of information behavior. Below are some examples of the myths.
  1. Only objective information is valuable: In reality, people often settle for a first satisfactory solution, not really an objectively best .
  2. More information is always better : In reality more information can lead to information overload, confusion and poor decisions since you are can fail to make a choice.
  3. Information can be given without context: Users need information framed in a  way that fits their problems so usually facts delivered out of context are usually ignored.
  4. Information can only be acquired through formal sources: It is a myth to think information is acquired through formal sources when most information is acquired through informal sources.
  5. There is relevant information for every need: Looking at Maslow's hierarchy of needs it is a myth that information alone can satisfy all needs. People have needs like food, shelter, love and clothing which information can not directly fulfil.
Dervin originally listed 10 assumptions, the above are just a few examples extracted from https://slegaultinforetrieval.blogspot.com/ 
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