ISKM10 Information Behavior

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2027
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Pavla Vizváry, Ph.D. LL.M. (lecturer)
Mgr. Kristýna Kalmárová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Pavla Vizváry, Ph.D. LL.M.
Department of Information and Library Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Alice Lukavská
Supplier department: Department of Information and Library Studies – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Abstract
The aim of the course is:
- orientate students in the issues of information behavior studies and the interdisciplinary nature of their research,
- to support their ability to analyze critical research publications and trends in information behavior research,
- to provide a basis for their own research in the field of information behavior.
Learning outcomes
The student will be able to:
- to describe the differences between the basic paradigms of information behavior, to evaluate their advantages and disadvantages, and to assign to the paradigms the corresponding methods of research and key experts,
- to interpret models of information behavior,
- to describe basic theories and methods of information behavior,
- to analyze the information behavior of users in different situations,
- to describe information behavior to draw conclusions on the design of services and systems,
- to analyse a scholarly article according to the IMRAD method.
Key topics
  • 1. Information Behavior and Information Interaction: Basic concepts and contexts
  • 2. Perspectives, paradigms
  • 3. Theories of Information Behavior
  • 4. Models and modeling of information behavior
  • 5. Searching, reading, and assessment of information behavior studies
  • 6. Methods of information behavior research
  • 7. Selected examples of information behavior research
  • 8. Research of information behavior in specific contexts (external lectures)
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • ST. JEAN, Beth; Ursula GORHAM and Elizabeth BONSIGNORE. Understanding human information behavior : when, how, and why people interact with information. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2021, xxi, 306. ISBN 9781538119129. info
  • FORD, Nigel. Introduction to information behaviour. first published. London: Facet publishing, 2015, x, 252. ISBN 9781856048507. info
  • FIDEL, Raya. Human information interaction : an ecological approach to information behavior. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2012, xiv, 348. ISBN 9780262017008. info
    recommended literature
  • Bates, M.J. Úvod do metateorií, teorií a modelů. ProInflow. 2011, 3(1), 90-114. ISSN 1804–2406.
  • SAVOLAINEN, Reijo. Everyday information practices : a social phenomenological perspective. Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2008, x, 232. ISBN 9780810861114. info
  • STEINEROVÁ, Jela. Informačné správanie : pohl'ady informačnej vedy. 1. vyd. Bratislava: Centrum vedecko-technických informácií SR, 2005, 189 s. ISBN 8085165902. info
  • Sense-making methodology reader : selected writings of Brenda Dervin. Edited by Brenda Dervin - Lois Foreman-Wernet - Eric Lauterbach. Cresskill, New Jersey: Hampton Press, inc., 2003, xv, 397. ISBN 1572735090. info
  • CASE, Donald Owen. Looking for information : a survey of research on information seeking, needs, and behavior. San Diego, California: Academic Press, 2002, xvi, 350. ISBN 012150381X. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Educational methods:
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Tasks
Students actively work with professional and research publications in information behavior. In addition to the content covered in lectures, students must demonstrate their knowledge of the topic obtained by studying professional literature (mandatory publications).
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

The course uses a point-based assessment system throughout the semester. To complete the course, students must earn at least 60 out of 100 points.

During the semester, students progressively develop an individual project focused on a critical analysis of research on the information behavior related to a selected concept. The project includes:

  1. A scholarly definition of the selected concept,
  2. An annotated research review (current state of knowledge),
  3. A critical analysis of one research article,
  4. A presentation of the analysis followed by a group discussion.

Peer assessment follows partial written assignments (points 1 and 2). Students receive points for properly completed written assignments and peer assessments. The teacher evaluates only the final version of the entire project. Detailed instructions, including the point distribution, are available in the organizational module of the interactive syllabus in the IS. Students can earn up to 70 points across all phases of the project.

Students can earn the remaining 30 points by completing a written test (closed-ended questions plus one open-ended question), which will take place in person in May.

Alternate completion
The presentation can be completed on individual dates by agreement in the case of an internship abroad.
Language of instruction
Czech
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2027, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2027/ISKM10