Chapter 9 Understanding Casual-Leisure Information Behaviour

David Elsweiler; Max L. Wilson; Brian Kirkegaard Lunn

doi:10.1108/S1876-0562(2011)002011a012

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Library and Information Science

ISSN: 1876-0562
Series editor(s): Professor Jens-Erik Mai

Subject Area: Library and Information Studies

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Chapter 9 Understanding Casual-Leisure Information Behaviour

Document Information:
Title:	Chapter 9 Understanding Casual-Leisure Information Behaviour
Author(s):	David Elsweiler, Max L. Wilson, Brian Kirkegaard Lunn
Volume:	1 Editor(s): Amanda Spink, Jannica Heinström ISBN: 978-1-78052-170-1 eISBN: 978-1-78052-171-8
Citation:	David Elsweiler, Max L. Wilson, Brian Kirkegaard Lunn (2011), Chapter 9 Understanding Casual-Leisure Information Behaviour, in Amanda Spink, Jannica Heinström (ed.) New Directions in Information Behaviour (Library and Information Science, Volume 1), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.211-241
DOI:	10.1108/S1876-0562(2011)002011a012 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Article type:	Chapter Item
Abstract:	Originally grounded in library and information science, the majority of information behaviour and information-seeking theories focus on task-based scenarios where users try to resolve information needs. While other theories exist, such as how people unexpectedly encounter information, for example, they are typically related back to tasks, motivated by work or personal goals. This chapter, however, focuses on casual-leisure scenarios that are typically motivated by hedonistic needs rather than information needs, where people engage in searching behaviours for pleasure rather than to find information. This chapter describes two studies on (1) television information behaviour and (2) the casual information behaviours described by users of Twitter. The first study focuses on a specific casual-leisure domain that is familiar to many, while the second indicates that our findings generalise to many other casual-leisure scenarios. The results of these two studies are then used to define an initial model of casual-leisure information behaviour, which highlights the key differences between casual-leisure scenarios and typical information behaviour theory. The chapter concludes by discussing how this new model of casual-leisure information behaviour challenges the way we design information systems, measure their value and consequently evaluate their support for users.