Toward usable user studies
Colin K. Mick, Georg N. Lindsey, Daniel Callahan · Journal of the American Society for Information Science · 1980
Abstract A management‐oriented model for describing and studying information behavior is proposed. The model focuses on variables which can be manipulated by managers—primarily environmental and situational variables—rather than on variables describing individual attributes. Several hypotheses derived from the model are tested using a database describing the information‐related attitudes and behaviors of some 560 scientists and engineers working in a variety of settings and roles. All but one of the hypotheses were confirmed, adding support to the model. The results of these tests suggest that environmental and situational constraints play a major part in determining information behavior. They suggest that interventions aimed at improving information flow within organizations must be carefully tailored to the specific situation if they are to have maximum impact.