I’ve only been here for two days, how do you…?: WhatsApp group as a social and collaborative information seeking virtual platform for women living abroad in the Middle East

Ahmed, Sumayya; Clemens, Rachael

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/100264 Copy

Description

Title

I’ve only been here for two days, how do you…?: WhatsApp group as a social and collaborative information seeking virtual platform for women living abroad in the Middle East

Author(s)

• Ahmed, Sumayya
• Clemens, Rachael

Issue Date

2018

Keyword(s)

• social and collaborative information seeking
• WhatsApp
• everyday life information seeking
• Middle East
• women

Abstract

Drawing on the unified framework of Social and Collaborative Information Seeking (SCIS) and situated in the context of everyday life information seeking (ELIS), this study explores the information seeking behaviour of expatriate women acclimating to life in the Middle East. Using the communication and information exchanges among an existing, user-initiated WhatsApp group with the sole purpose of supporting women moving into the capital city of Qatar, Doha, this research examines the unique information needs expressed through group chat as well as the dynamic roles members play alternating between information seekers, providers, collaborators, and supporters. Computational analysis, qualitative coding, and questionnaire data help us understand how the group functions as a tool for women as they seek information and make sense of their new environment with the help and support of virtual strangers.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2018 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/100264

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2018 is held by Sumayya Ahmed, Rachael Clemens. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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