FIMS Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2011
Volume
99
Issue
2
Journal
Journal of the Medical Library Association
First Page
127
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.3163/1536-5050.99.2.004
Last Page
134
Abstract
Objective:
A discourse analysis was conducted of peer-written blogs about the chronic illness endometriosis to understand how bloggers present information sources and make cases for and against the authority of those sources.
Methods:
Eleven blogs that were authored by endometriosis patients and focused exclusively or primarily on the authors' experiences with endometriosis were selected. After selecting segments in which the bloggers invoked forms of knowledge and sources of evidence, the text was discursively analyzed to reveal how bloggers establish and dispute the authority of the sources they invoke.
Results:
When discussing and refuting authority, the bloggers invoked many sources of evidence, including experiential, peer-provided, biomedical, and intuitive ones. Additionally, they made and disputed claims of cognitive authority via two interpretive repertoires: a concern about the role and interests of the pharmaceutical industry and an understanding of endometriosis as extremely idiosyncratic. Affectiveauthority of information sources was also identified, which presented as social context, situational similarity, or aesthetic or spiritual factors.
Citation of this paper:
Neal, Diane M. and Pamela J. McKenzie. 2011. Putting the pieces together: Endometriosis blogs, cognitive authority, and collaborative information behavior. Journal of the Medical Library Association 99(2): 127–134, doi 10.3163/1536-5050.99.2.004.
