Information Management Behaviors Research Articles

TRIBAL FARMING DYNAMICS: INVESTIGATING THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES ON AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Agriculture is the cornerstone of many rural communities worldwide. Tribal farmers play a vital role in preserving agricultural customs and ensuring regional food security. The efficient management of agricultural information is critical in modern farming operations, as it allows farmers to enhance production, make informed decisions, and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture include networks, mobile devices, services, and applications that aid in the processing, management, and exchange of data, information, or knowledge within the farming ecosystem. ICTs assist farmers through educational procedures in improving farming methods and techniques, increasing production efficiency and income, bettering their levels of living, and lifting the social and educational standards of rural life. The study was conducted in the Keonjhar district of Odisha. An ex-post facto research design was followed for carrying out the study. The research study was followed by both purposive and non-probability random sampling methods for the selection of district, block, gram panchayat, village, and respondents. 120 respondents were selected through disproportionate random sampling. The study revealed the relationship between some socio—economic and psychological variables and Agricultural information management behavior. From this correlation, it was observed that age is negatively correlated and other variables such as gender, education, income, family size, outward orientation, training program, and social participation are positively correlated with information-seeking sources. These variables are directly proportional to the information-seeking sources.

Information seeking and personal information management behaviors as scaffolding during life transitions: the case of early-career researchers

PurposeThe study investigates the information-related challenges as well as the practices adopted by early-career researchers during transitions between roles and institutions. Its primary goal is to delve into how information behaviors serve as scaffolding during significant life shifts. Moreover, the research aims to provide actionable insights based on this scaffolding concept for individuals navigating transitions.Design/methodology/approachThis preliminary and exploratory study took a phenomenological approach to examine the role of information seeking and personal information management (PIM) behaviors during life transitions. In-depth semi-structured interviews were held with 15 early-career researchers from various disciplines, who were about to finish their PhDs or had recently graduated.FindingsBy employing information seeking and PIM practices, participants were able to address three main information challenges that arose during the transition process: the timing of information behavior, the nature of information and the social components of the transition. The use of networked and independent information seeking/validation practices enabled to establish a sustainable network of transition-related information, reducing uncertainty. PIM practices helped planning the transition, maintaining information over the long-term and gaining control over personal information.Originality/valueThis study underscores the significance of information behaviors, encompassing both information seeking and PIM, as scaffolding mechanisms during crucial life transitions. It offers essential insights that can guide the creation of impactful interventions and resources. Additionally, the research illuminates the pressing demand for more in-depth exploration in this domain.

Does minority shareholder activism reduce stock idiosyncratic risk?

Using the China Securities Investors Services Center (CSISC) shareholding as an exogenous shock, this study investigates the impact of minority shareholder activism on idiosyncratic risk. The results show that minority shareholder activism reduces idiosyncratic risk. Firms with lower conditional accounting conservatism, a lower ratio of shares held by institutional investors, or a larger ratio of shares held by managers experience a greater reduction in idiosyncratic risk after the CSISC shareholding. It suggests that minority shareholder activism has a governance effect on constraining insiders’ information management behavior and improving information disclosure, through which idiosyncratic risk decreases. Furthermore, the idiosyncratic risk decreases after the CSISC exercises its rights by attending shareholder meetings. The difference in idiosyncratic risk between firms vanishes after the shareholding pilot program expands to the entire capital market. Finally, we find that the CSISC has a demonstration effect on encouraging other minority shareholders to participate in shareholder meetings.

Dissemination of Agricultural Information with Respect to Tribal Community

This study was conducted in Keonjhar district of Odisha state. Agriculture information management behaviour is to be focussed on the flow of information regarding seeking information on various practice of crops and seeking information on various agri-allied activities . The flow of information is based on the various aspect in which tribal people are most probably involved in transferring information through various methods. The result showed that observed that some respondents were receiving information about cultivation practices 33.33% followed by greengram cultivation practices 29.16% and black gram cultivation practices 25%. And 98.32% are receiving information from AAO followed by VLW (95.83%) and from training programme (54.15%) according to personal sources. According to impersonal sources majority of the respondents 64.33% are receiving information from radio followed by television (61.66%) and newspaper (59.16%). Agricultural information interacts with and influences agricultural productivity in a variety of ways. It can help inform decision regarding land, labour, livestock, capital and management. Agricultural productivity can arguably be improved by relevant, reliable and useful information and knowledge. Hence the creation of agricultural information by extension services, research, education programmes and others are managed by agricultural organizations that create information systems to disseminate information to farmers so that farmers can make better decisions in order to take advantage of market opportunities and manage continuous changes in their production systems. All these information seeking behaviours with respect to ICT, the farmers help them to manage in agricultural and other allied activities.

Influence of employees’ perceptions of the uses and security of human resource records on employees’ attitude toward human resource records

PurposeHuman resource records are the cornerstone of human resource management. Organizations rely a great deal on their employees to furnish them with human resource records, which is crucial to the effective management of the employees and the success of the organization. It is evident, however, that personal information-related issues in organizations are of significant concern and that examining employees’ perceptions and attitudes regarding personal information management is extremely valuable. Yet, this is largely absent in the literature. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the influence of perceptions of employees concerning the uses and security of human resource records on their attitude toward human resource records in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive survey design was used in this study. An online questionnaire was used to gather responses from employees for analyses. A structural equation model was developed and assessed because of the advantages that come with its use and the characteristics of this study. The assessment of the structural equation model was done to determine the significance of the hypothesized paths. In addition, effect size, coefficient of determination and predictive relevance of the structural model were assessed. Before that, the validity and reliability of the measurement model were examined through the assessment of the indicator loadings, average variance extracted, Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability. An importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) was also conducted.FindingsThe hypotheses formulated in this study could not be rejected because the hypotheses tested were statistically significant. Thus, this study revealed that employees’ perception of the uses of human resource records influenced their attitude toward human resource records. Also, employees’ perception of the security of human resource records influenced their attitude toward human resource records. The IPMA revealed that the perception of uses of human resource records was more important, yet its performance was below the perception of security as significant.Practical implicationsHuman resource records management professionals, particularly in Ghana, ought to ensure that the human resource records in their organizations are used for the purpose for which they are collected and also, secured. In addition, they should assure employees that their personal information is used as expected and secured. This could be realized with the use of international records management standards especially those in the ISO 30300 series. More so, human resource managers as part of their counseling duties also need to counsel employees so that they form positive perceptions about the uses and security of the personal information they give to their organization in the course of their employment.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study brings to light the attitude of employees toward human resource records based on their perceptions of uses and security in the Ghanaian context which is absent in the literature as previous studies have focused mainly on personal information management behavior only at the individual level.

Relationship between knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and quality of life in the middle-aged and elderly people in China: A cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to describe the knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and quality of life (QoL) in the middle-aged and elderly people in China and to clarify the relationship between the knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and QoL. It is a cross-sectional study and in this study, a stratified multistage random sampling method was used to collect data on the three factors such as knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and QoL among the middle-aged and elderly people in the Hunan Province. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to test the relationship between the knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and QoL. The results of the present study showed that among them, the prevalence of knee pain was the highest (52.1%), followed by knee weakness (42.5%), numbness (41.8%), cold feeling (40.0%), tenderness (38.3%), and distension feeling (37.5%). Average score of self-management of knee joint discomfort in the middle-aged and elderly people was 2.14 ± 0.67. The level of self-management in each dimension ranged from high to low as emotional management, daily management, symptoms management, and information management. The average scores of physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) were 42.85 ± 5.34 and 43.62 ± 8.43, respectively. The occurrence, frequency, and severity of discomfort symptoms were positively correlated with the symptoms management, daily management, information management, and self-management behaviors, and negatively correlated with the emotional management, PCS and MSC, except for the occurrence of discomfort symptoms (P < 0.05). Knee joint discomfort was prevalent in the middle-aged and elderly people. In addition, they displayed a low level of self-management behavior and poor QoL. The middle-aged and elderly people faced knee discomfort symptoms, the more frequent and severe symptoms, the higher level of symptom management, daily management, and information management, and the lower level of emotional management and QoL.

The Impact of Cyberloafing on Employees’ Job Performance: A Review of Literature

Objectives: A controversy exists since long, among the researchers about the impact of cyberloafing on employees’ job performance. Some researchers study that cyberloafing distracts employees from their job descriptions; while others argue that cyberloafing is quite helpful in different ways to add quality to employees’ work. The aim of this paper is to review the past literature in order to understand the impact of cyberloafing in shaping up or destructing employees’ job performance. Moreover, the paper highlights the methodological analysis based on literature review. Future recommendations for the use of the internet by employees on office computers as well as other social media devices to enhance employees’ job performance are given. Design: An organized review of the literature (1996- 2020) from information technology, business, management, and organizational behavior studies was performed. The topics studied were about internet, World Wide Web, cyberloafing, social media, employees’ job performance, employees’ engagement, employees’ productivity, and workplace environment. Data Sources: Different research platforms such as ‘Research gate’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Jstor’, ‘Google Scholar’, ‘SCOPUS’, ‘ELSEVIER’, ‘SCIENCE DATA’, ‘Core’, ‘ScienceOpen’, ‘ERIC’, ‘Paperity’ and internet were used to read up literature. Review Methods: Different articles written in English, related to employees’ behavior and performance as well as cyberloafing and social media, were studied. Results: The review of literature showed that cyberloafing and social media significantly impact employees’ job performance. However, the findings were not consistent, and both the positive and negative impacts of cyberloafing and social media on employees’ performance were found. Conclusion: The mixed findings indicate that cyberloafing can have both the positive and negative impact on employees’ job performance. In other words, a little bit cyberloafing is important for healthy communication, innovation and productivity; while the excessive unethical use of internet was found to have adverse effects on job performance. Therefore, it is recommended not to totally suppress cyberloafing but to devise cyberloafing control strategies which are equally acceptable to both the employees and employers. Hence, by the implementation of right cyberloafing control policies, positive outcomes of cyberloafing could be achieved.

From Offline to Online: Understanding Chinese Single Mothers' Uncertainty Management in Interpersonal and Online Contexts.

Divorced and unwed single motherhood is heavily stigmatized in Chinese cultural context, preventing Chinese single mothers from actively seeking the information and support needed and negatively impacting their wellbeing. Drawing on the theory of motivated information management (TMIM), this study tested how perceived stigma and cultural norms influenced Chinese single mothers’ search for information and social support from families, friends as well as from online communities. Using two-wave data collected from 226 single mothers, findings support the utility of the TMIM in explaining information management and support seeking behaviors and contribute to situating the TMIM process within larger socio-cultural contexts. Practical implications regarding how to facilitate more effective uncertainty management and enhance Chinese single mothers’ wellbeing in interpersonal vs. online contexts are discussed.

Development and validation of a self-management behavior questionnaire for Chinese enterostomy patients

ObjectivesThis study aimed to develop a self-management behavior questionnaire for Chinese enterostomy patients and examine its reliability and validity. MethodsGuided by the theory of self-management, an initial questionnaire was generated through literature review, group meetings, and two rounds of an expert consultation. Finally, the reliability and validity of the questionnaire were validated through a questionnaire survey of 200 enterostomy patients were selected from the Affiliated Hospital of Medical University from June 2016 to March 2017. ResultsThe content validity index was 0.80–1.00. The exploratory factor analysis yielded a five-factor (dietary behavior, psychosocial behavior, symptom management behavior, medical compliance behavior, information management behavior), consisting of 40 items. The cumulative variance contribution rate was 65.42%. The Cronbach’s α coefficient for the total questionnaire was 0.972, and for the five factors ranged from 0.797 to 0.939, indicating a good internal consistency. The test-retest reliability was 0.867 (P < 0.01). The self-management behavior questionnaire score was negatively related to the Ostomy Skin Tool score (r = −0.800, P < 0.01). ConclusionsThe self-management behavior questionnaire developed in this study showed good reliability and validity and can be used to assess the self-management behavior of Chinese enterostomy patients.

The role of feelings in personal information management behavior: Deleting and organizing information

An increasingly intense experience of personal information management (PIM) manifests in how people manage personal information archives and how they feel about it. To this point, however, the relations between feelings and PIM behavior have attracted limited study. We examined how feelings shape people’s organizing and deleting practices, focusing on four affective aspects: anxiety, self-efficacy, belonging, and loss of control. We hypothesized that these affective aspects would predict the extent to which people utilize organizing and deleting practices. Data were collected via two self-reported questionnaires distributed to 465 respondents. Findings partially supported the hypotheses and showed self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of deleting and organizing. This suggests the process of PIM is more efficient and productive when people enjoy interacting with personal information and do not perceive it as a burden. We discuss the results and suggest several implications for research, PIM literacy development, and platform design.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT BEHAVIOUR AND SOCIO ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF MANIPURI RURAL WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN FISHERIES IN MANIPUR

The study, investigated the information management behavior and socio-economic empowerment of women, who participated in fisheries activities in Manipur. One hundred and twenty women formed the sample for the study. The Information Management Behaviour of the women was operationalised as the process of identification and collection of information on fisheries technologies of origin, evaluating, storing, updating and retrieving it whenever necessary. Majority of the respondents belonged to medium category of (64.2%) information management behaviour, followed by low (18.3%) and high (17.5%) categories. Majority of the respondents used personal contacts for seeking information on different aspect of fisheries. Around 97.5 % of the respondents had the habit of evaluation of the information through discussion with the family members followed by discussion with neighbours and on the light of past experiences. Almost 94% of the respondents followed the method of 'memorization' for storage of farm information and 33.33% of the respondents were 'taking down in a note book/diary for storage of farm information. Chi-square showed highly significant association between empowerment and information management behaviour of the sampled women in the study area. Positive and significant relationship was also found between information management behavior of women with their education, level of participation in fisheries activities, experience in fisheries, management orientation, economic motivation, annual income and knowledge level. Key words: Information management, information seeking, information evaluation, information preservation, women, fisheries

Information management and the return-entry process: Examining information needs, sources, and strategies after Superstorm Sandy

The effective management of disasters requires timely and accurate information. Both emergency management (EM) organizations and the public are involved in information management activities during and after a disaster where they seek information from various sources to reduce disaster-related uncertainties. While studies have focused on information needs and source reliance behaviors of EM organizations amid a disaster, the information management behaviors of the organizations during return-entry phase has gained little scholarly attention. This study examines the information management strategies of local EM organizations while managing the initial return-entry movement following Superstorm Sandy. Using a qualitative research design, the researchers conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 25 EM officials from New Jersey. The data analysis yielded five themes that highlight the information management strategies of the EM organizations – information needs, information sources, information seeking behavior, information exchange, and applying information for return-entry decisions. This paper discusses these findings and provides proactive strategies to gather and manage information to facilitate return-entry decision-making and risk communication in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

Uncertainty Management and Curve Flattening Behaviors in the Wake of COVID-19’s First Wave

ABSTRACT The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak poses a substantial threat to public health. Individual efforts to engage in COVID-19 precautionary behaviors are necessary to flatten the pandemic’s curve in the waiting period before a vaccine is developed. This study sought to apply the Theory of Motivated Information Management to investigate the relationships among COVID-19 illness uncertainty, information management, and actual precautionary behaviors, both preparatory and preventative. The results of a national opt-in online panel demonstrate that uncertainty discrepancy, anxiety, and information management strategies are key predictors of the adoption of COVID-19 preparation and prevention behaviors. The results further identify diverging associations across age groups with respect to associations between information management and precautionary behaviors. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Applying the theory of motivated information management to family health history

AbstractThis study applied the theory of motivated information management (TMIM) to examine how married couples manage uncertainty about partners' family health history. Spouses reported (N = 626) on TMIM variables and information seeking/provision at Time 1 and on actual information seeking/provision behavior 3 weeks later. Findings largely supported paths proposed in the TMIM, but the model did not predict actual information management behaviors. As the first TMIM study to analyze dyadic, two‐wave data, results underscore the interdependent nature of information management processes in that seeker's efficacy assessments were associated with provider's direct information provision, and these effects were mediated by provider's perceptions of seeker efficacy assessments. Information seeker's perceptions did not play as significant a role in the process.

Towards a typology of personal information management behavior: exploring and defining people's interactions with personal information

PurposeDifferences in personal information management (PIM) behavior are well established in the literature, but are defined from the narrow perspective of practical use (e.g. filing/piling, emailing). This paper aims to identify the types of PIM behavior that would help us understand how people manage personal information in the digital era.Design/methodology/approachThe authors relied on the theoretical framework, published in a recent article (Alon and Nachmias, 2020a), examining actual PIM behavior (e.g. actual practice), ideal behavior (e.g. perceptions of best practice) and the gaps between them. Our framework drew on data collected via a questionnaire on the use of 25 PIM practices (N = 465).FindingsThe findings indicated four types of PIM behavior that differed by activity level (actual PIM) and satisfaction level (ideal PIM and gaps): passive and satisfied, active and satisfied, fairly active and unsatisfied and active and fairly satisfied. This allows the classification of users according to their dominant tendency to use specific practices.Originality/valuePrevious studies focused mainly on specific PIM practices or contexts. Our research creates a classification of types, based on ideal as well as actual PIM behavior, and also examines a broader perspective.

Gaps between actual and ideal personal information management behavior

Personal information management (PIM) on digital platforms requires multiple practices of saving, organizing and retrieving information. This exploratory study offers a new perspective on PIM practices and focuses on the gaps between their actual and ideal use. Data were collected from 465 participants, 114 males and 351 females, who filled in a questionnaire that we developed and validated for 25 PIM practices. Findings showed significant gaps between actual and ideal usage for 22 out of 25 practices. These gaps were mostly positive, revealing that participants wished to use more practices than they actually did and were not satisfied with their PIM behavior. They were larger for women, and we also found age differences. Larger gaps could be associated with negative feelings and a sense of low efficacy in managing personal information. We offer various explanations of the gaps and suggest implications for consumer training and platform design.

Information management behaviour of shrimp farmers in West Bengal

Information management behaviour of shrimp farmers in West Bengal

Liar at First Sight?

Abstract. Research suggests that early impressions influence employment interview outcomes. A highly controlled experiment examined the effects of pre-interview qualifications information and early applicant impression management behavior on interviewers’ early impressions and, in turn, applicant outcomes. Mock interviewers ( N = 247) judged the same applicant with a poorer pre-interview qualification ranking to be a poorer performer, but also perceived the applicant to have faked (deceived) more, and considered the applicant less likeable, less competent, less dedicated, and more conceited. Early applicant impression management behavior did not consistently contribute to interviewers’ early impressions, or to perceptions and judgments. Overall, these findings suggest that early applicant information can affect interviewer cognitions and judgments through the formation of early impressions.

Associations between parental media monitoring style, information management, and prosocial and aggressive behaviors

Parental monitoring of adolescent media use has been associated with decreased negative effects of media on adolescent behavior, but we know little about the explanatory mechanisms behind these associations. The current study sought to explore the links between parental media monitoring and adolescent behaviors via adolescents’ levels of media disclosure and secrecy. Participants included a national sample of 945 adolescents aged 10–18 years (49% female, 69% European American) taken from a study of adolescent media use. Results suggested that autonomy supportive active and restrictive monitoring were associated with higher levels of media disclosure and lower levels of media secrecy (active only). Controlling active and restrictive monitoring were associated with higher levels of media secrecy. In turn, media disclosure was associated with more prosocial behavior toward family, and media secrecy was associated with less prosocial behavior toward family and more relational aggression. The discussion focuses on adolescent information management (e.g., disclosure and secrecy) as an important mechanism to explain links between parental media monitoring and adolescents’ behavioral outcomes.

Information activities within information horizons: A case for college students' personal information management

Personal information management behaviors appear differently by sources and by context. This study investigates personal information spaces from a quantitative approach and factors specific information behaviors and sources into information contexts. Using the information source horizon theory as a theoretical framework, college students' information behaviors to specific information sources were investigated in three personal information contexts (academic, health, and personal history contexts). In the college setting, students' personal information horizons echo the findings of previous studies that information contexts determine information horizons in general. In addition, specific information behaviors (collect, organize, and utilize) in this study are an important factor to influence personal information horizons. Certain information activities are observed in similar patterns regardless of contexts. The study suggests that the Information Horizon theory could be expanded to include information behaviors as an important determinant. From the data, radar charts visually present the relationships between information sources and activities, and they served as a collective form of information horizon maps.