A comparison of information behavior studies in United States and India: Number of publications, authorship, journals, theories, research populations, and methods

Abstract

This study compares attributes (authors, journals, populations, theories, methods) of information seeking behavior studies based in the United States and India, based on a search of published articles from 2011 to 2020 in relevant information science databases. The findings indicate major differences in information behavior research among the two countries. Information behavior research in the United States tends to focus more on health and medicine-related research populations, employ greater use of information behavior theories, and use a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods (as well as mixed methods). Information behavior research in India tends to focus more on general populations, use less theory, and rely heavily on quantitative research methods—particularly questionnaires (88% of studies). These findings suggest a healthy and intellectually-diverse information behavior research area in the United States and ample room for growth of the research area within India.

Surveillance as information practice

“…A large amount of information behavior research focuses on people “using new technologies for finding and communicating information” (Bates, 2010, p. 2385). Information behavior thus includes the study of “information needs, information seeking, information sharing, information gathering, information retrieval, and information use” (Kumar & Lund, 2022). Contemporary conceptions of information behavior are informed by how Krikelas (1983, p. 6) defined information‐seeking behavior as “any activity of an individual that is undertaken to identify a message that satisfied a perceived need,” where information was defined as “any stimulus that reduces uncertainty.” Other information science research from that era defined “information‐seeking behavior” as “specific actions performed by an individual that are specifically aimed at satisfying information needs” (Feinman et al, 1976, p. 3).…”