LAB 2: ANALYZING AN “INFORMATION JOURNAL”

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MATERIALS

Link to worksheet in Word Document form.

GOALS

1. To experience first hand the complexity of information searching, including the diversity of sources, communicative intent, criteria for satisfaction, and sub-goals.

2. To systematically examine an information event.

 

OVERVIEW

Prior to lab, each person will have documented in the form of an “information journal” a recent encounter with “information”.  In this lab, you will work in small groups to analyze the content of these information journals according to specified elements, such as communicative intent of the “sender” and Buckland’s categories.

 

HOW TO PROCEED

1. Form a group with 3-4 people.

2. Have each person share his or her information journal with the group, highlighting interesting aspects encountered along the way.

3. Choose one information journal to work with first.  As a group, identify the overarching goal and each of the sub-goals.  Then for each sub-goal, identify the following: (a) information source, (b) presence or absence of communicative intent on the part of a “sender”, (c) if relevant, a match or mismatch between communicative intent of the “sender” and what is received, (d) how the sub-goal was satisfied (if at all), and (e) identify aspects of the sub-goal in Buckland’s terms of “information-as-thing”, “information-as-process”, and “information-as-knowledge”.

4. If you have time, continue to analyze additional information journals.  As you look across your analyses of the different information journals, note any patterns that emerge.

5. Prepare a list of  3-5 interesting reflections on the process you have just gone through.  At the end of lab, we’ll take a few minutes to hear from each group.

 

WHAT TO TURN IN

Turn in a copy of your analyses and attach a copy of the information journals from each member of your group.  (Note: Attach a copy of all the information journals even if you did not have time to analyze all of them).  Also include your list of 3-5 interesting reflections.  Be sure to clearly label your analyses with all the members of your group.