“Information needs changing over time”: a critical discussion

  • Theo JD Bothma University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Henning Bergenholtz Centre for Lexicography, Aarhus University, Denmark and Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Keywords: Information needs, change over time, function theory

Abstract

For the past twenty years phrases such as stable information needs, unstable information needs or information needs changing over time are found in many contributions to information science. At first view these concepts seem to be easy and clearly understandable. However, after some considerations different questions arise: For which types of information need do we see that these needs are changing over time for all types, or only for certain types? How do information needs relate to changes in the world, or to changes in the human understanding of the world? We will show that information need changing over time is a very complex concept and only understandable if we distinguish between changes in the world, situation/context, user, types of information need and interpretation of data. Clarity of writing is essential in scientific writing and authors using the concept information needs changing over time or similar phrases should clearly define what they mean by the phrases to ensure that no ambiguity exists when readers interpret their writings.

Author Biographies

Theo JD Bothma, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Professor and HoD, Department of Information Science
Henning Bergenholtz, Centre for Lexicography, Aarhus University, Denmark and Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Professor, Centre for Lexicography, and extraordinary professor, Department of Information Science

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Published
2013-07-31
Section
Research Articles