The pleasure principle: the power of positive affect in information seeking

Fulton, Crystal

doi:10.1108/00012530910959808

Cited by 72 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(39 reference statements)

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“…Computers and search engines make it easy for people to find what they're looking for. I strongly disagree (1) to I very much agree (10). How likely is it that there will be something specific on what you're looking for?…”

Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…How likely is it that you will become good at this type of task? Pretty doubtful (1) to Almost certain (10). How much luck do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?…”

Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Doubtful (1) to Almost certain (10). How likely is it that you will become good at this type of task?…”

Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Search Optimism is measured using these three items: "How motivated are you to keep on trying today until you succeed? Slightly motivated (1) to Very highly motivated (10). Computers and search engines make it easy for people to find what they're looking for.…”

Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…How much luck do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks? I have bad luck (1) to I always find something useful (10)." Search Optimism is measured using these three items: "How motivated are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?…”

Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can research “send me high?” Addressing flow theory

Hudock

2015

Reference Services Review

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Purpose – The purpose of this study is to find whether undergraduate students in the first discipline-based class can attain flow state while researching. Despite its widespread acceptance and application, flow theory has not been applied to the research process. Moreover, it can further librarians’ knowledge of the importance of affect in information seeking behavior. Design/methodology/approach – Flow is a phenomenological state achieved when skill level is equal to challenge level. Flow experience was operationalized using Z-score analysis as one standard deviation above individuals’ averages. The study used mixed methods including event contingent experience sampling method, Bostick’s library anxiety scale and reflection papers. Following library instruction sessions, undergraduate participants scheduled research consultations with a librarian. Findings – Individual research sessions grew more positive as reflected by Z scores over the semester, with one case of flow. Overall, participants’ library anxiety decreased minimally. Reflection papers reiterated the value of approachability and interest of the librarian, with those who had consultations feeling both increased confidence in their skills and in knowing they had an ally in their research. Research limitations/implications – The original collaborator and pedagogy were not utilized, thereby limiting the scope and sample size. The author was able to collaborate with other faculty. Future research would benefit from a larger sample size and more collaboration. Originality/value – Using flow theory as a model can emphasize the positive aspects of research as interesting and enjoyable, even in the imposed query setting of the classroom, and it can encourage librarians’ display of interest during research consultations.

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Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…How likely is it that you will become good at this type of task? Pretty doubtful (1) to Almost certain (10). How much luck do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?…”

Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Doubtful (1) to Almost certain (10). How likely is it that you will become good at this type of task?…”

Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: "You Don't Need It 'Til You Need It"mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can research “send me high?” Addressing flow theory

Hudock

2015

Reference Services Review

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Toward a model of emotions and mood in the online information search process

Lopatovska

2014

Asso for Info Science & Tech

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This article reports the results of a study that examined relationships between primary emotions, secondary emotions, and mood in the online information search context. During the experiment, participants were asked to search Google to obtain information on the two given search tasks. Participants' primary emotions were inferred from analysis of their facial expressions, data on secondary emotions were obtained through participant interviews, and mood was measured using the Positive Affect Negative Affect Scale (PANAS; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988) prior, during, and after the search. The search process was represented by the collection of search actions, search performance, and search outcome quality variables. The findings suggest existence of direct relationships between primary emotions and search actions, which in turn imply the possibility of inferring emotions from search actions and vice versa. The link between secondary emotions and searchers' evaluative judgments, and lack of evidence of any relationships between secondary emotions and other search process variables, point to the strengths and weaknesses of self-reported emotion measures in understanding searchers' affective experiences. Our study did not find strong relationships between mood and search process and outcomes, indicating that while mood can have a limited effect on search activities, it is a relatively stable and long-lasting state that cannot be easily altered by the search experience and, in turn, cannot significantly affect the search. The article proposes a model of relationships between emotions, mood, and several facets of the search process. Directions for future work are also discussed.

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Sharing “happy” information

Tinto

Ruthven

2015

Asso for Info Science & Tech

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This study focusses on the sharing of 'happy' information; information that creates a sense of happiness within the individual sharing the information. We explore the range of factors motivating and impacting upon individuals' happy information sharing behaviour within a casual leisure context through 30 semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that the factors influencing individuals' happy information sharing behaviour are numerous, and impact upon each other. Most individuals considered sharing happy information important to their friendships and relationships. In various contexts the act of sharing happy information was shown to enhance the sharer's happiness.

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The pleasure principle: the power of positive affect in information seeking

Cited by 72 publications

References 25 publications

Can research “send me high?” Addressing flow theory

Can research “send me high?” Addressing flow theory

Toward a model of emotions and mood in the online information search process

Sharing “happy” information

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