Information behaviour of women: theoretical perspectives on gender

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there is a need to consider gender or sex differences as variables in information behaviour research and, if so, how? Design/methodology/approach -A metasynthesis approach is used. A preliminary framework to categorise information behaviour research on women is developed by integrating main themes from feminist research and information behaviour research. Within each category, studies are compared and contrasted, to identify similar and divergent themes. Themes are then compared across categories, to synthesise the main concepts. Findings -The categorisation works for most studies, apart from a group of studies on health information use, communicating risk and decision making. The meta-synthesis indicates the importance of concepts such as situation (as mesh), intermediaries (as node with connections), and connecting behaviour. Gender-related or, rather gender-ascribed, constructs, such as concern for others, not gender alone are likely to be important variables in information behaviour.Research limitations/implications -The meta-synthesis is a top-level synthesis, as the number of studies prohibited a more detailed approach. Further meta-synthesis of a few high quality research studies would help to confirm the findings. Practical implications -The synthesis illuminates a different perspective on information behaviour: the network of information users rather than the individual information seeker. Originality/value -The synthesis integrates some feminist research themes with information behaviour research, and the findings have implications for general information behaviour research. IntroductionThe aim is to examine whether there is a need to consider gender or sex differences as variables in information behaviour research, and if so, how. In many studies of the seeking and use of information by different groups, gender (sex) may be recorded as a demographic variable, but with no further examination of different behaviour that may be associated with women rather than men. This is, as Hupfer and Detlor (2006) point out, puzzling, as many studies have indicated sex differences in spatial orientation, attitude towards computers, and verbal skills -all factors that might influence information seeking preferences on the internet and use of electronic information services. In other research, by virtue of the group chosen (e.g. battered women,

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