Expanded Model of Everyday Information Practices with Information Avoidance in Digital Environments

Abstract

ABSTRACTUntil recently, research on information behavior and practices has focused on a series of actions, including having information needs, seeking information to satisfy those needs, and using the acquired information to varying degrees. However, in digital environments with an enormous distribution of information, it is necessary to consider information practices by focusing on their relationship with negative behaviors, such as information avoidance. Based on the discourses by Japanese Canadian seniors on information behavior during the COVID‐19 pandemic, this study attempted to construct an expanded model of everyday information practices (EIP) that incorporates the concept of information avoidance into the EIP model proposed by Savolainen. Findings suggest that information avoidance is likely related to an individual's social context and that, as a result of information avoidance, different means of information acquisition are chosen from a person's stock of knowledge, resulting in different aspects of the individual's information practices.