[6] An analysis of the most cited publications on information behavior during the early 21st century shows its theoretical nature.
[14] In Library and Information Science (LIS), a metatheory is described "a set of assumptions that orient and direct theorizing about a given phenomenon".
This variation has been noted as a cause of concern because it makes individual studies difficult to compare or synthesize if they are not guided by the same theory.
This sentiment has been expressed in studies of information behavior literature from the early 1980s [16] and more recent literature reviews have declared it necessary to refine their reviews to specific contexts or situations due to the sheer breadth of information behavior research available.
[18] Wilson's attempt to understand information-seeking behavior by defining information need includes a cognitive approach.
It relies on social constructionism, which assumes that a person's information behavior is influenced by their experiences in society.
The most popular thinker referenced in constructionist information behavior research is Michel Foucault, who famously rejected the concept of a universal human nature.
[18] Constructivist approaches to information behavior research generally treat the individual's reality as constructed within their own mind rather than built by the society in which they live.
[21] The constructivist metatheory makes space for the influence of society and culture with social constructivism, "which argues that, while the mind constructs reality in its relationship to the world, this mental process is significantly informed by influences received from societal conventions, history and interaction with significant others".
This variation has been noted as a cause of concern because it makes individual studies difficult to compare if they are not guided by the same theory.
[22] LIS researchers have applied concepts and theories from many disciplines, including sociology, psychology, communication, organizational behavior, and computer science.
[5] He described information-seeking behavior as purposive seeking of information as a consequence of a need to satisfy some goal.
Information-seeking behavior is the act of actively seeking information in order to answer a specific query.
Elfreda Chatman developed the theory of life in the round, which she defines as a world of tolerated approximation.
It acknowledges reality at its most routine, predictable enough that unless an initial problem should arise, there is no point in seeking information.
Brenda Dervin described sensemaking as a method through which people make sense of their worlds in their own language.
[29] McKenzie's model proposes that the information-seeking in everyday life of individuals occurs on a "continuum of information practices... from actively seeking out a known source... to being given un-asked for advice.
[42] David Ellis investigated the behavior of researchers in the physical and social sciences,[43] and engineers and research scientists[44] through semi-structured interviews using a grounded theory approach, with a focus on describing the activities associated with information seeking rather than describing a process.
[45] Developed by Stuart Card, Ed H. Chi and Peter Pirolli, this model is derived from anthropological theories and is comparable to foraging for food.