Models of collaborative information behaviour (CIB): A meta-synthesis

Abstract

Models of information behaviour are one of the prominent features of Library and Information Science research. The purpose of this study was to synthesise models of collaborative information behaviour (CIB). More specifically, the study compares the complementarity and congruent aspects of the models with regard to conceptual relationships that describe CIB processes and activities. The synthesis also ascertains the contributions of the models in exploring new aspects of information behaviour. Six CIB models were purposively selected and studied. The review includes a meta-ethnographic approach. The approach comprises three stages: reciprocal synthesis, reputational synthesis, and line-of-argument-synthesis. The results suggest that despite being analogous, and complementary, the models are dissimilar and relatively lack analogical conceptualization of some of the concepts. The models have explored new contexts and dimensions of information behaviour that go beyond existing approaches and perspectives within LIS. From the synthesis, the potential for developing a taxonomy of CIB and collaboration is proposed.