Seven information practices for alleviating information vulnerability

Abstract

PurposeThis literature review aims to identify conscious, intentional, repetitive and transferrable information-related decisions and activities (i.e. information practices) for individuals to alleviate their information vulnerability. Information vulnerability refers to the lack of access to accurate, affordable, complete, relevant and timely information or the inability to use such information, which can place individuals, communities or society at disadvantage or hurt them.Design/methodology/approachConceptual literature review.FindingsThis review presents seven conscious, intentional, repetitive and transferrable information practices to alleviate information vulnerability.Practical implicationsDue to the transferability potential of the seven information practices, diverse populations in varied contexts could refer to, adapt and benefit from appropriate combinations of information practices and their manifestations. The framework can be used by individuals for alleviating information vulnerability. Thus, this paper responds to the call for conducting action-driven research in information science for addressing real-world problems. Information professionals can help individuals select and implement appropriate combinations of seven information practices for alleviating information vulnerability.Originality/valueWe propose (1) a parsimonious, episodic framework for alleviating information vulnerability, which depicts the inter-relationship among the seven information practices and (2) a three-dimensional plot with information access, use and value as three axes to map the manifestation and outcome of alleviating information vulnerability.

Personal information management burden: A framework for describing nonwork personal information management in the context of inequality

“…However, the LGBQ parents that we interviewed in this study expressed the opposite: many spoke at length about how their child's birth certificate did not represent their child, themselves as parents, or their families and made them feel vulnerable. This feeling aligns with findings from Potnis and Winberry's (2021) information vulnerability, as the LGBQ parents we interviewed, the document did not affirm their identity. In discussing how their child's birth certificate did not represent them, participants highlighted that the birth certificate was meant to represent their child but it contained incorrect and/or false information about the child's parents.…”

“…In our method of “following the PIM,” we initially thought that Savolainen's (1995) ELIS Chatman's (1996) information poverty, and Allan and Wilson's (2003) information overload may be relevant in helping us understand the burden that participants discussed. However, we found that these theories held less relevance that the concept of invisible work discussed by Dalmer and Huvila (2019) and Ancker et al (2015); Gibson and Martin's (2019) theory of information poverty; Greyson's (2017) exploration of the information seeking of young parents, and Potnis and Winberry's (2021) discussion of information vulnerability. Existing research on health IB was particularly relevant.…”

“…The additional activities also track to PIM activities established by Jones (2008); Negative affect : The PIM is discussed as highly affectual and most often negatively; closely aligning it with the stress experienced from information overload as described by Bawden et al (1999); Allan and Wilson (2003); and affective interactions discussed by Alon and Nachmias (2020); Lack of identity self extension to the personal information : There exists a disagreement with the “represents me” characteristic and link between personal information and identity findings from Cushing (2012, 2013) and others. This can lead to a feeling of vulnerability (Potnis & Winberry, 2021); Additional information seeking : There exists an understanding that the information seeking process is designed for the non‐marginalized, majority group. This creates the requirement for the marginalized group to engage in additional information seeking to complete the same task that the non‐marginalized group can potentially arrive at in fewer procedural steps.…”

“…Lack of identity self extension to the personal information: There exists a disagreement with the "represents me" characteristic and link between personal information and identity findings from Cushing (2012Cushing ( , 2013 and others. This can lead to a feeling of vulnerability (Potnis & Winberry, 2021); 4. Additional information seeking: There exists an understanding that the information seeking process is designed for the non-marginalized, majority group.…”

“…The authors found that much of the discussion about information poverty suggests that information poverty is constructed based on “lack” which implies that there is a “right kind as well as a right amount of information” (p. 535). This is further extended by Potnis and Winberry's (2021) concept of information vulnerability, which is defined as “the lack of access to accurate, affordable, complete, relevant, and timely information or the inability to use such information, which can place individuals, communities or societies at disadvantage or hurt them” (p. 1).…”