CITATION AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:
Cite as: Cheuk, W-Y, B., & Dervin, B. (1999). A qualitative Sense-Making study of the information seeking situations faced by professionals in three workplace contexts. The Electronic Journal of Communication [On-line serial] 9 (2, 3, & 4).
© The Electronic Journal of Communication (1999).

ABSTRACT:
This article represents an emerging research genre which focuses on the study of information seeking and use in context. Context is explored using the Sense-Making Methodology which requires consideration of time, space and movement in defining and studying information seeking and use. This approach differs from most traditional studies that have conceptualized context and situation as pre-defined conditions that predict across time. This study’s respondents included three professional groups: auditors, engineers, and architects. A Sense-Making interviewing approach was used to collect qualitative data focusing on information seeking and use in recent job-facing situations. An iterative comparative analysis involving the deductive application of Sense-Making’s meta-theory with the inductive force of the data led to the development of ten information need situations, called information seeking situation types in this study. Seven of these situations were common to all three professional groups. These commonalities are noteworthy because previous studies have mainly highlighted differences between workplace domains. The conclusions from this study point to the utility of taking into account information seeking situation types which are conceptualized as embedded in time and arising out of sense-making activities as information users construct their movements through time-space.

TO OBTAIN FULL TEXT:
Some readers may be able to obtain this journal online at their institutions by accessing www.cios.org. Others may join CIOS under the following options: For a one-year membership, the professional rate is $45.00 US ($40.00 US if you work at a CIOS Institutional or Departmental Affiliate) or $25.00 US for students ($20.00 US if you are a student at a college or university that is a CIOS Institutional or Departmental Affiliate). Others should request access to the full text URL by completing this form. (This will open a new window.)

OTHER MATERIALS BY THESE AUTHORS ON THIS WEBSITE:
For Cheuk,
See: http://communication.sbs.ohio-state.edu/sense-making/AAauthors/authorlistcheuk.html
For Dervin,
See:  http://communication.sbs.ohio-state.edu/sense-making/AAauthors/authorlistdervin.html