Abstract
This chapter discusses individual differences in information experiences, with particular focus on emotional aspects. It reports findings from two studies that explored K12 and mature students’ experiences of uncertainty in the information search process. These experiences were related to the respondents’ personality traits and approaches to studying. The studies found that intrinsic motivation and openness to experience increased the likelihood of a pleasant information experience in a study context, while extrinsic motivation and insecurity often resulted in a negative one. Conscientious and systematic searchers tended to be foremost goal-oriented, whereby the affective tone of a search depended on the amount of progress towards the goal. Patterns of explorative or systematic searching were found both during a specific inquiry process and as broader conceptions of regularly occurring information experiences.
| Original language | Undefined/Unknown |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Information Experience: Approaches to Theory and Practice. |
| Editors | Christine Bruce, Kate Davis, Hilary Hughes, Helen Partridge, Ian Stoodley |
| Publisher | Emerald |
| Pages | 275–293 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-1-78350-816-7 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1-78350-815-0 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
| MoE publication type | A3 Part of a book or another research book |
Keywords
- Approach to studying
- personality
- students