Information behaviour and information literacy

Lecture 2: Shift from Information system to users and myths of information behaviour

On Thursday 6 November, 2025, Mzuzu University Master of Library and information science, cohort 7 attended an information behaviour and digital literacy class with Associate Professor Chawinga. The class just like other classes was insightful, motivational and quite thought provoking. The lesson began with an interesting concept on the shift from Information systems to information seeking which is also known as sense making.

Initially, the researchers and scholars focused much on the information sources and systems rather than the information users. For instance, scholars focused much on the artifacts and venues of information like the books, journals, newspaper, libraries, telecentres etc. The main goal was to understand what the information sources were and how they were used. The case is different now as the scholars are concerned with the information seeking of users.

Nevertheless, the information systems approach discarded the needs, wants, interests, actions, behaviours and strategies of users. The older literature also viewed the users of information as passive recipient or consumer of information. Moreover, the information system approach mainly aimed at storing and organising data for known queries

The professor also made mention that by 1970s a significant shift occurred as scholars began to study the user as an active, creator and user of information. The new direction brought to life the concepts of information behaviour, information seeking also known as sense making. This entails that scholars had observed that people deeply engaged with information within a certain context.

On the other hand, the Professor introduced a different unit that talked of the myths or troubles about information behaviour and information seeking. The lesson delved into some of the dubious assumptions about information as identified by Delvin (1976a). The paragraph below outlines some of the myths about information behaviour and information seeking.

To begin with, only objective information is valuable. This assumption is objected by saying that every information needs critical analysis. Moreover, people tend to choose what objective information is. Secondly, more information is always better. This is criticised by saying that having information is not the same as one is informed.. In addition, there is relevant information for every need. This point is protested as the truth still remains that mere information cannot satisfy many human needs. Another myth is that objective information can’t be transmitted out of context. For instance, quoting people’s statements out of the context in which they were speaking is wrong.  Lastly, every need situation has a solution.

In a nut shell, the lesson covered the concept of shift from information systems to users where it was established that older literature was not about information seeking as is the current literature. The lesson also elaborated some myths about information behaviour and information seeking as identified by Dervin (1976a). Some of the myths include; only objective information is valuable, more information is always better, objective information cannot be transmitted out of context. You may wish to learn more through the video below: https://wchawinga.blogspot.com/