Empirical Studies of Information Seeking Behaviors during Pandemics: A Review of Theoretical, Methodological Issues and Implications

Hu, Zhan

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/108751 Copy

Description

Title

Empirical Studies of Information Seeking Behaviors during Pandemics: A Review of Theoretical, Methodological Issues and Implications

Author(s)

Hu, Zhan

Issue Date

2020-10-13

Keyword(s)

• Information seeking behaviors
• COVID-19
• Pandemics

Abstract

This work-in-progress poster aims to report the results of a systematic review of empirical works of information-seeking behaviors during pandemics, with the focus on the most recent past pandemic, the 2009 H1N1 Influenza. Through the review, the author attempts to extract common themes and present comparative approaches in terms of theoretical frameworks of information-seeking behaviors, research designs, and how and what implications are drawn. The results will help form a better understanding of the information-seeking behaviors during pandemics as closely explored and discussed in these studies, meanwhile, plow the way for looking at how information-seeking has evolved during the current COVID-19 Pandemic. With the majority of the world population under the shadow of COVID-19 and approximately 90% of the US population under self-quarantine for an extended period of time, the physical restrictions have forced the information-seeking behaviors to be more virtual. The topics of information sought after have also gone beyond health concerns, such as symptoms, protective measures, and vaccines, but online shopping, virtual school, work from home, social distancing, unemployment and etc, a much broader range of issues that are essential for the general public to maintain a normal life under new norms. With a drastically different development of the virus and measures taken to contain and cure the cure and much more serious consequences as compared to H1N1 Pandemic, COVID-19 has presented a unique setting for revisiting information-seeking behaviors during pandemics. The implications that are drawn from this assessment of the post-H1N1 Pandemic information-seeking behavior researches will inspire further discussions of theoretical models and research methodologies.

Series/Report Name or Number

• Information Needs
• Information Seeking
• Information Use
• Research Methods

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108751

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