Information use as gap‐bridging: The viewpoint of sense‐making methodology

Abstract

The conceptual issues of information use are discussed by reviewing the major ideas of sense-making methodology developed by Brenda Dervin. Sense-making methodology approaches the phenomena of information use by drawing on the metaphor of gap-bridging. The nature of this metaphor is explored by utilizing the ideas of metaphor analysis suggested by Lakoff and Johnson. First, the source domain of the metaphor is characterized by utilizing the graphical illustrations of sense-making metaphors. Second, the target domain of the metaphor is analyzed by scrutinizing Dervin's key writings on information seeking and use. The metaphor of gap-bridging does not suggest a substantive conception of information use; the metaphor gives methodological and heuristic guidance to posit contextual questions as to how people interpret information to make sense of it. Specifically, these questions focus on the ways in which cognitive, affective, and other elements useful for the sense-making process are constructed and shaped to bridge the gap. Ultimately, the key question of information use studies is how people design information in context.

Understanding “influence”: An empirical test of theData‐FrameTheory ofSensemaking

“…In this paper, we use the former spelling when we refer to Dervin's theory and the latter spelling when referring to Klein's theory. Klein's D/F model has been introduced to express "the core process of sensemaking as it occurs in high-end, proficient problem solving" (Moore & Hoffman, 2011, p. 145), whereas Dervin's presents "a theoretic net, a set of assumptions and propositions, and a set of methods that have been developed to study the making of sense that people do in their everyday experiences" (Savolainen, 2006(Savolainen, , p. 1117. Although using different terminologies, both theories discuss the construction of new knowledge to solve a problem (Klein, 1997) or fill a gap (Dervin, 1999), while using frames (Klein, 1997) or verbings (Dervin, 1999) to guide the processes of information seeking and use.…”

“…Dervin's theory of sense-making is based on "gapbridging," which begins when an individual faces a problematic situation ("gap-facing") (Savolainen, 1993, p. 17). The theory is built on "the metaphorical triangle of situation-gap-uses in that gap-bridging stands for the process which results in various outcomes of information seeking and use" (Savolainen, 2006(Savolainen, , p. 1117. People "construct bridges" (find answers) to fill the gap of knowledge/ information; "the attempts to bridge [the] gap are preceded by gap-facing and gap-defining, followed by the consideration of gap-bridging strategies and tactics" (Savolainen, 2006(Savolainen, , p. 1120.…”

“…The theory is built on "the metaphorical triangle of situation-gap-uses in that gap-bridging stands for the process which results in various outcomes of information seeking and use" (Savolainen, 2006(Savolainen, , p. 1117. People "construct bridges" (find answers) to fill the gap of knowledge/ information; "the attempts to bridge [the] gap are preceded by gap-facing and gap-defining, followed by the consideration of gap-bridging strategies and tactics" (Savolainen, 2006(Savolainen, , p. 1120. "The construction of the 'informational' bridge consists of identifying, finding, and combining various elements such as ideas, beliefs, and narratives" (Savolainen, 2006(Savolainen, , p. 1121.…”

“…People "construct bridges" (find answers) to fill the gap of knowledge/ information; "the attempts to bridge [the] gap are preceded by gap-facing and gap-defining, followed by the consideration of gap-bridging strategies and tactics" (Savolainen, 2006(Savolainen, , p. 1120. "The construction of the 'informational' bridge consists of identifying, finding, and combining various elements such as ideas, beliefs, and narratives" (Savolainen, 2006(Savolainen, , p. 1121. As in Klein's (1997) theory, Dervin argues that people use prior experiences (internal sources) to anticipate possible outcomes of gap-bridging, but when they cannot rely on their knowledge they look for external familiar sources until they find the information that helps them fill the gap.…”

“…Although the frame is changed and adapted through cognitive activities in the D/F theory, gapbridging strategies and tactics are used to determine ways to construct the most appropriate bridge in the sense-making theory. A difference between both theories is that the "nature of these strategies and tactics is not discussed in greater detail in sense-making" (Savolainen, 2006(Savolainen, , p. 1122, whereas in Klein et al's theory (2007) cognitive activities that people follow to make sense of a situation are explained in detail.…”