Information Mediation and User Studies: Interrelations

Authors

  • Adriana Bogliolo Sirihal Duarte Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2178-2075.v3i1p70-86

Keywords:

Mediation, User studies, Information behavior

Abstract

Based on the experience of conducting the Information Users discipline in graduate courses and on extension and research activities developed with the users of a mobile library, the goal is to reflect on the relationship between the systematic study of information users and the role of mediation. The theoretical framework is based on the definitions of users and information behavior currently used in Information Science literature as well as on authors who discuss the concept of mediation. The article briefly describes surveys (user studies) performed in situations that emphasize the role of mediation. Three user studies are mentioned: two qualitative studies, in which interviews were used as data collection method, aiming at the development of mediation actions; and a quantitative study, which aims to evaluate the results of a mediation action already implemented. The study concludes that mediation can be facilitated by the practice of conducting systematic user studies as well as by the adoption of some methods and techniques of user studies in the mediator's daily work. And although the mediator's work is changing due to changes in information support (information in electronic media), its function of mediation remains increasingly necessary and should be more favored in the educational training of professionals. 

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Author Biography

  • Adriana Bogliolo Sirihal Duarte, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
    Doutora em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (2005). Professora adjunta da Escola de Ciência da Informação da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Published

2012-06-28

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

SIRIHAL DUARTE, Adriana Bogliolo. Information Mediation and User Studies: Interrelations. InCID: Revista de Ciência da Informação e Documentação, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil, v. 3, n. 1, p. 70–86, 2012. DOI: 10.11606/issn.2178-2075.v3i1p70-86. Disponível em: https://periodicos.usp.br/incid/article/view/42370.. Acesso em: 19 may. 2024.