Section Five

5.1 Kuhlthau, C. (1991). Inside the Search Process: Information Seeking from the User's Perspective, Journal of the American Society for Infromation Science, 42 (5), 361-370.

This article reads as if it is split into two separate parts. The first part extensively covers a majority of the models discussed in class, such as Belkin's anomalous state of knowledge (ASK) hypothesis. This allows the reader unfamiliar with these various models to educate themselves quickly on the current trends in library studies that influenced Kuhlthau's thought process. The second section describes the study completed by Kuhlthau and her findings regarding the Information Search Process, or ISP. Here she outlines the various stages of the ISP, which at the time of publication, consisted of Initiation, Selection, Exploration, Formulation, Collection, and Presentation. Through these levels of the search process Kuhlthau ascribes specific emotions and actions to distinct moments in the searching process.

While I am already familiar with the models discussed in what I have previously labeled the first portion of the article, I found it helpful to have succinct renditions to remind me. Firstly, it helped me to integrate what I have already ingested of human information behavior movements into Kuhlthau's new model. This allowed me to place it in perspective within the field. While that was certainly helpful, I am mainly appreciative of Kuhlthau's inclusion because I will be able to access all of these models in one single article in the future when I am in the field. Since ISP appears the most relevant to myself as a future school librarian, it is most likely to be an article I take with me on the job. Beyond gaining a refresher on just this model, however, I will be able to remind myself of cognitive and sense-making models as well.

The presentation of the information made it very easy to understand, unlike a lot of the more technical articles covered in this class. In terms of ease of reading, one article in particular comes to mind to counter Kuhlthau's digestible material, and that would be Julien and Duggan's A Longitudinal Analysis of the Information Needs and Uses Literature. While both articles are comprised of numerous tables and charts, those found in Kuhlthau's are more comprehensive. As a person that predominately absorbs information via visual cues, I found the heavy employment of tables describing the information in the article extra helpful.

While I was reading through the material presented on the Information Search Process, I was able to relate my own feelings (especially frustration) to what Kuhlthau found. Somehow, by reading an official study documenting the feelings of intense anxiety and uncertainty that I often relate with extensive research projects, it is able to allieviate the tension. By accepting that the doubt and confusion that I feel in the initial stages of searching is expected, I can also feel more hopeful that I will be able to finish the project and not let the uncertainty overwhelm me. This is especially helpful considering a large segment of my grade for multiple classes this semseter depends upon my ability to conduct lengthy and multi-faceted searches. I can then accept the confusion and doubt and move on faster to the later stages of the process.