LECTURE 2 SUMMARY

 

MZUZU UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SCIENCE

 

TO                        : PROFESSOR WINNER CHAWINGA

FROM                    :  EDWARD MALUWA (MLIS1525)

PROGRAMME        : MASTER’S DEGREE IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

COURSE TITTLE        : INFORMATION BEHAVIOUR AND LITERACY EDUCATION

 

COURSE CODE      : MLIS 6301

LEVEL                     : ONE

SEMESTER                : ONE

ASSIGNMENT NO.  : TWO

TASK                       : LECTURE 2 SUMMARY

DUE DATE                : 11Th NOVEMBER, 2025

 

 

 

 

Summary of lecture 2 that took place on 6th November, 2025

INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION USERS

Introduction

Previously, information providers such as resource centers, information centers and libraries were more concerned with systems that can store information for the users. Therefore, the aspect was solely on systems development, systems management etc but it was later discovered that having well designed systems and keeping relevant information was not enough (could not satisfy the users) hence it was good to move from the information system concentration to the users.

There is need to study the behaviour of our clients by conducting research on their preferences or the choice of information they are looking for (information seeking) for their daily activities. Conducting interviews, surveys, and observations to understand user behaviors and challenges hence this will help understanding the users of information.

Examples of information behavior research questions;

Personal oriented (user oriented)

How do lawyers make sense of their tasks and the environment? (key word is users) the focus is on the user

What kind of documents does engineers need for their work?

Why focusing on these kind of questions?

To equip prospective researchers, skills to know the type of questions to ask during the interviews and surveys, hence this will help to understand and know the users’ behavior.

Myths/trouble about Information Behavior and Information seeking

These are dubious assumptions that users do when seeking for information.

 

1.      Only objective information is valuable

This is when people are relying on their friends to make decisions. This means that people         are facing some problems because of relying much on their close friends.

2.      Objective information can be transmitted out of context

Sometimes people are ignoring isolated facts when they cannot form a complete circle/picture of them. Therefore, this may lead to trouble though there was a possible fact that can have been used to change the situation.

3.      Every need situation has a solution

The system will provide an answer for every problem being sought by the users whether useful or not.

4.      More information is always better

Having more information does not mean having informed decisions hence increasing the flow of information does not always result in an informed person.

5.      It is possible to make information available or accessible

People will tend to come up with their own answers to their own unique unpredictable questions without resorting to formal information systems

6.      Information can only be acquired through formal sources

People use formal sources rarely instead of gathering and applying information from informal sources like from friends and family throughout their lives

7Relevant information for every need

Mere information cannot satisfy human needs hence information seeking/behavior is not only problem-solving but is also part of exploration. 

7.      Space and time

When people perceive a lack of something in their life, they tend to systems for help hence that becomes a need for them.

 

 

 

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