Information grounds theory (1999, 2004)

As a study and research topic, information behavior has always remained central to the field of library and information science. Theorization in this area has, likewise, constantly attracted the interest of many researchers and so outbound empirical research has generated an enormous body of literature. Information grounds as a theory is one of the latest evolving phenomena in the area of information behavior. It seeks to interpret peoples' interaction with information in a social context. This chapter attempts to elaborate on the emergence and development of information grounds and its capability to delineate everyday information behavior. The chapter also reviews the literature that has used information grounds as a basis for interpreting information behavior in different social settings and it identifies opportunities for future research in user studies that can build upon information grounds to explore and clarify the information needs and behavior of certain groups in different socio-cultural environments.