Location

Law Building 51/52

Start Date

22-3-2019 12:00 PM

End Date

22-3-2019 1:30 PM

Description

Brenda Dervin’s Sense-Making metatheory is a popular theory within Library and Information for helping to describe the nature of information needs and the seeking of information. However, both Savolainen (1999) and Kari (2001) have noted how Dervin is surprisingly vague about gap-bridging, a fundamental component of her theory and ultimately fails to describe how sense is actually made (Kari, 2001, p. 36). However, Dervin notes that individuals construct “interpretive bridges over a gappy reality” (Dervin, 1999b, p. 730), suggesting that the crux of Sense-Making is a hermeneutic process. Based on a textual analysis (McKee, 2003) of Dervin’s writing on Sense-Making (Dervin & Frenette, 2003) and Heidegger’s ontological hermeneutics (Heidegger, 1927/1962), this poster presents a revised model which seeks to resolve this problem. Instead of Dervin’s “three point” Sense-Making triangle, the Heideggerian lens points towards a “five-point” pentagon: Situation, Gap, Taking-as, Bridging, and Outcome. This pentagon model separates the interpretive taking-as act from the subsequent actions that actually constitute the bridging. This model is a novel contribution to the research on Dervin’s Sense-Making, as well as to information behaviour and practice models.

References

Dervin, B. (1992). From the mind's eye of the user: The Sense-Making qualitative-quantitative methodology. In J. D. Glazier, & R. R. Powell (Eds.), Qualitative research in information management. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Dervin, B. (1999b). On studying information seeking methodologically: The implications of connecting metatheory to method. Information Processing & Management, 35(6), 727-750.

Dervin, B., & Frenette, M. (Eds.). (2003). Sense-Making Methodology reader: Selected writings of Brenda Dervin. Creskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Heidegger, M. (1927/1962). Being and time (J. Macquarrie, & E. Robinson, Trans.). London, United Kingdom: SCM Press.

Kari, J. (2001). Information seeking and interest in the paranormal: Towards a process model of information action (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.

McKee, A. (2003). Textual analysis: A beginner’s guide. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.

Savolainen, R. (1999). Information use, gap-bridging and Sense-Making. In B. Dervin, & M. Frenette (Eds.), Methodology between the cracks: Sense-Making as exemplar (pp. 78-81). San Fransisco, CA: International Communication Association.

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Mar 22nd, 12:00 PM Mar 22nd, 1:30 PM

Making Sense of Sense-Making: Uncovering Dervin’s Hermeneutic Intentions

Law Building 51/52

Brenda Dervin’s Sense-Making metatheory is a popular theory within Library and Information for helping to describe the nature of information needs and the seeking of information. However, both Savolainen (1999) and Kari (2001) have noted how Dervin is surprisingly vague about gap-bridging, a fundamental component of her theory and ultimately fails to describe how sense is actually made (Kari, 2001, p. 36). However, Dervin notes that individuals construct “interpretive bridges over a gappy reality” (Dervin, 1999b, p. 730), suggesting that the crux of Sense-Making is a hermeneutic process. Based on a textual analysis (McKee, 2003) of Dervin’s writing on Sense-Making (Dervin & Frenette, 2003) and Heidegger’s ontological hermeneutics (Heidegger, 1927/1962), this poster presents a revised model which seeks to resolve this problem. Instead of Dervin’s “three point” Sense-Making triangle, the Heideggerian lens points towards a “five-point” pentagon: Situation, Gap, Taking-as, Bridging, and Outcome. This pentagon model separates the interpretive taking-as act from the subsequent actions that actually constitute the bridging. This model is a novel contribution to the research on Dervin’s Sense-Making, as well as to information behaviour and practice models.

References

Dervin, B. (1992). From the mind's eye of the user: The Sense-Making qualitative-quantitative methodology. In J. D. Glazier, & R. R. Powell (Eds.), Qualitative research in information management. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Dervin, B. (1999b). On studying information seeking methodologically: The implications of connecting metatheory to method. Information Processing & Management, 35(6), 727-750.

Dervin, B., & Frenette, M. (Eds.). (2003). Sense-Making Methodology reader: Selected writings of Brenda Dervin. Creskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Heidegger, M. (1927/1962). Being and time (J. Macquarrie, & E. Robinson, Trans.). London, United Kingdom: SCM Press.

Kari, J. (2001). Information seeking and interest in the paranormal: Towards a process model of information action (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.

McKee, A. (2003). Textual analysis: A beginner’s guide. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.

Savolainen, R. (1999). Information use, gap-bridging and Sense-Making. In B. Dervin, & M. Frenette (Eds.), Methodology between the cracks: Sense-Making as exemplar (pp. 78-81). San Fransisco, CA: International Communication Association.

 

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