Human Information Interaction

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Background and Aim: The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of information poverty, its levels and its causes in society   
Methods: The article is a review-analytical paper.
 Results: The findings show that information poverty is part of the larger problem of poverty and results from socioeconomic, educational and infrastructural issues. Information poverty can be discussed at macro (community), meso (society) and micro (personal) levels. Several factors, including the lack of access to information, the inability of meaning to information, socioeconomic and infrastructural factors and context-related factors, contribute to the creation or intensification of information poverty in society. It has also been shown that educational, economic/ financial, institutional, social/ cultural, mental/ diagnostic, personal/ attitudinal, and information awareness contributes to the creation of information poverty.    
Conclusion: Information poverty is a concept that is less addressed in the literature of knowledge and information science. Considering the necessity of recognizing it in order to confront and reduce it in society, this paper, while addressing the importance of information poverty, the concepts of poverty, Information, information poverty, information poor, vulnerable groups, and reasons causing information poverty, and showed that this concept has overlapping themes with inequality of information, information gap, information divide, information rich and poor, digital divide and the balance of information

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Background and Aim: Under the influence of various factors, people use different methods and methods to obtain information and express different information behaviors. These behaviors have been introduced in the form of patterns and models of information retrieval by information science experts in recent decades, which can be used in various fields. One of these areas that almost all people are directly or indirectly involved in is the field of treatment and medicine.   
Methods: This paper whit quasi-experimental examines the Analysis of information behavior of psychotherapists in the process of diagnosing and treating mental disorders based on the Kuhlthau information search process model. The population of this study is psychologists and psychiatrists with more than two years of treatment history. The sample selected from this group also includes 30 therapists who entered the competition through a public call as a top therapist using a simple sampling method. 
Results: The findings show that the sequence of therapists' movements is in accordance with Kuhlthau's opinion and they perform a repetitive movement in the diagnosis and treatment process, but the level of presence of therapists (time spent) differs at different stages from the model considered by Kuhlthau. The findings also showed that variables such as treatment history, field of study, and gender could influence the behavior of therapists. On the other hand, the relationship between the information of the therapists' information behavior and variables such as information literacy, state anxiety and trait, specialized knowledge and self-assessment of therapists was significantly evaluated.    
Conclusion: The information behavior that a treatment specialist performs in his or her treatment process can be analyzed according to the Kuhlthau model.

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Background and Aim: Today, word of mouth communication plays a significant role in customer's decision-making, especially in the service environment, particularly tourism. However, it should be noted that several factors influence the pursuit of information (information tracking) in this type of communication that needs to be identified and strengthened.Therefore, the present study aims to provide a model for explaining effective factors in tracking information in electronic word of mouth communication among foreign tourists who have traveled to Kashan in the summer of  2016.   
Methods: The present research is applied and the method of data collection is descriptive-survey.The sample size was estimated to 150 people according to Morgan and Krejcie tables and random sampling was performed.To collect the research data, 28 questionnaires and 8 demographic questionnaires were designed by reviewing the theoretical foundations of the research.
Results: Of the eleven hypotheses, three hypotheses of the effect of perceived ease on mental involvement and the effect of trustworthiness and mental involvement on information follow up were confirmed, and eight other hypotheses were rejected. Therefore, mental involvement is not affected by the source trustworthiness, validity of the message, and the perceived benefits of online counseling communication. Subjective conflict can be influenced by the perceived ease of online counseling communication and perception fun. Comes from online communication communications. The source's trustworthiness and perceived benefits and perceived enjoyment of online advices do not affect its follow-up, and the validity of the message in online advocacy communications is effective in tracking it. Mental conflicts with online advocacy are also affected by follow-up.
Conclusion: According to the findings of the research, marketing and tourism experts should strive to advertise their services and awareness to the tourists through the use of the Internet and social media capabilities.

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Background and Aim: This article studies the information literacy skills of Kurdistan University graduate students and its relationship with their information grounds.  
Methods: The research used descriptive-correlation survey methodology. The statistical population consisted of 1977 Master degree students at University of Kurdistan and 321 members thereof selected by stratified random method for research sample. Data collected by a questionnaire including two sections for identification of the students’ information grounds and information literacy skills. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics were used for data analysis.
Results: Kurdistan University graduate students overall information literacy was above average and desirable in five literacy skills. Results on the relationship between research variables showed that there is a positive and strong correlation between academic information grounds and information literacy competencies. Correlation between scientific information grounds and information literacy competencies is positive and suitable where it is positive and moderate between public information grounds and information literacy competencies. There is a negative correlation between first and second information literacy competencies and information grounds; straight and positive correlation between third and fourth information literacy competencies with grounds and fifth information literacy competency and information grounds correlation is insignificant but negative. It is concluded that priorities among three dimensions is for academic and scientific information needs but public information needs is less concerned and deficiency should be improved.
Conclusion: Article is valuable for information literacy competencies recognition and its advantages for correlation indication between information literacy and information grounds and policy making on research population.

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Background and Aim: Today, knowledge is essential to the survival and success of any organization. Given that they are the people who create, share and use knowledge, an organization cannot effectively use knowledge unless its employees are willing to share their knowledge and attract knowledge of others. On the other hand, Gamification involves combining the usual mechanisms in the games with the work space, in order to make things more appealing and to direct human behavior towards the goals of the system. Gamification is actually the use of game components on issues other than the game and emphasizes the use of entertainment and pleasure in the work. In this research, it has been tried to study and recognize the Gamification, its dimensions, mechanisms, dynamics, and models, using Grounded Theory method; and the following, we try to find a way to understand the role of the Gamification and apply it to the sharing and dissemination of knowledge.   
Methods: Grounded Theory is an inductive method of theoretical discovery that allows the researcher to develop a report on the general characteristics of the subject; While simultaneously consolidating the basis of this report in empirical data observation. Using purposeful sampling, research data were collected using interviewing tools and analyzed through data analysis and coding principles. 
Results: In this research, after formulating the stages of Grounded Theory and types of data encoding, in the end, a theory with visual modeling is presented and evaluated.
Conclusion: The dimensions of the proposed framework include the “organizational context”, “game-related dimensions”, and “other indicators that affect the Knowledge Sharing- Gamification”. Each of these dimensions includes lower-level components that are described in the model's description. For example, “organizational context” includes incomes, costs, platform, and so on, and “game-related dimensions” include the mechanisms, dynamics and aesthetics of the game

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Background and Aim: The purpose of the present research is to implement a part of Wilson's model of information behavior to approach consumer behavior. Therefore effect of personality and demographic characteristics were assessed on the information needs of mobile phone customers.
Methods: This is a descriptive correlational survey research. Instruments applied were Rammstedt & John's Personality questionnaire and a researcher made questionnaire. Population consisted of Tehran's main mobile center customers. Sample selected was 384 Mobile customers.   Hypotheses were  tested by  t- test, Spearman correlation, multivariate regression and Pearson correlation.
Findings: Findings for personality  traits reveal that: The effects of four variables including agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness on information needs have been confirmed and concerning the variable of extroversion, the null hypothesis has been confirmed. The demographic data showed that age, income and gender have an influence on information needs. Also, findings related to the variable of education, confirmed the significant relation of this variable with brand conscious.
Conclusion: In addition to highlighting the link between two areas of information behavior and consumer behavior, the research confirmed the relationship and effectiveness of the two intervening variables in Wilson's information behavior model with information needs.

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Background and Aim: A prevalent disese among old people is Alzheimers (AD), which requires special care due to its nature. Taking relegion, culture and economy into account, mojorty of families protect  an old family member afflicted with AD. However,  major concern is the need for sufficient information regarding treatment of elderly dignosed with AD.
Method: Qualitative research approach was applied and content analysis method utilized to analyze the data. Population  included 9 patients with Alzheimers. The instrument used was a semi-structured interviews.
Finding: The results of the content analysis of the obtained categories showed that the four main categories and sixteen sub categories are important in the information needs of adherents of patients with AD. The main categories include information needs related to AD, information needs related to mental health, information needs related to physical and personal health and information needs related to health services.
Conclusion: In general, amateur cares (caregiver) were of limited knowledge of physical and mental care regarding AD. Healthcare providers or institutions   providing Alzheimer  care are mandatory.  In addition to specialized services, these people have been trained to provide patients with better patient care

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Background and Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate the prevailing views in the field of information retrieval in information science (system-oriented, user-oriented and domain-oriented) and to enlighten the new view of "semiotics."  The research seeks to answer the following questions: What are the main components of the views in information science? What are the characteristics of the semiotic view  and what is its added value compared to other perspectives?
Methods: Researches  that have used the concepts, models and theories of semiotics in various fields of information science were searched in the databases of Emerald, Scopus, Google Scholar. The retrieved articles were reviewed with the selection of 23 Articles.  The title, abstract and results of the articles as well as the full text of 5 articles associated to the purpose of the research were analyzed via content analysis method.
Results: Findings showed that most of the research in the field was published between 2000 and 2018 by mostly researchers in Denmark. Some articles have explained and defined the concept of information based on the concepts and theories of semiotics and had presented a new view on information science based on the classification, called the semiotic view.
Conclusion: The results showed that system-oriented, user-oriented and domain-oriented views emphasized the document and each of them emphasized an aspect. The semiotic point of view, information is intended as sign and can combine the characteristics of the three views and define the information regardless of the media that carries it and remove the boundaries of the document.

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Background and Aim: Searching for information is not always a targeted activity; it can also be done involuntarily. The serendipity has the ability to find information randomly and as something happy, something unexpected, or a pleasant surprise. This paper examines and analyzes the concept of serendipity and its models in the process of information searching.
Methods: The present study uses a library research method to study concept of serendipity and its models in the process of information searching.
Results: Serendipity is a term for a broad and multifaceted phenomenon. Widespread vague nature of serendipity has made it difficult to study and inspect, and has led to numerous explanations and clarifications from researchers. The serendipity (accidental information discovery) is different from the purposeful search of information, because it is more about dealing with information or accidentally discovering information. Unexpected (accidental), intelligent, and valuable or potentially valuable results of the requirements of a worthwhile experience.
Conclusion: Understanding serendipity as an integral part of information behavior can be effective in identifying strategies for retrieving information that leads to accidental information discovery.

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Background and aim: Analyzing the newly-emerged field of human-information interaction (HII) needs to study the field from diferent aspects and perspectives. Religious literature, including among others the Koran is one of main resources for doing so. This study aimed to extract and explain the guidelines and main points related to HII by deeply reflecting on Koranic verses and chapters that regard this notion.
Method: By applying Koranic scientific and topical interpretion approach and using a qualitative content analysis, the related guidelines and points were extracted from the Koran by using a comprehensive and popular 10-volumed Persian interpretion book, Tafsīr Nūr authored by an Iranian scholar, Muhsin Qarā‘tī.
Findings: 25 Koranic guidelines on HII were found from the Koran. In total, the Koran has direct and indirect guidelines on HII, including information search, evaluation, dissemination, use and verification, and approaches of sending-receiving and using information.
Conclusion: Considering the Koranic guidelines on HII and conducting further research on them can resolve many challenges of encountring information of any types in the information age

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Background and Aim: The object of the  study was to Analyze IFLA Library Reference Model (LRM) Entities and Attributes for Iranian Traditional Music Resources, Case Study: Morq-e Sahar Song.
Method: The  study inherits an applied content analysis method. All Entities and Attributes of  IFlA LRM Model based on  two checklists include:  Final report of IFlA LRM on August 2017 and Transition Mappings User Tasks, Entities, Attributes, and Relationships in FRBR, FRAD, and FRSAD mapped to their equivalents in the IFLA Library Reference Model Analyzed for Morq-e Sahar Song data elements. The research sample size involves Fifty different performances of Morq-e sahar Song.
Results: The results show that all the eleven Entities and the Thirty -Seven Attributes of IFLA-LRM except for Cartographic scale attribute parallels  in Morq-e sahar  song data elements.
Conclusion: As a first step,  the results of  the study  in identifying conveniences of this model for organizing traditional Iranian music resources, realizing IFlA LRM Model’s Entities and Attributes which is  appropriate in Iranian traditional music organization is operational.  The results are also practical for experts of Information organization and designers of Information retrieval system.

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Background and Aim: Information seeking behavior arises when one feels a void in his/her knowledge which inspires one to acquire new information. The central point in explaining behavior is the fact that many features influence its occurrence, and emotions are considered to be a major element involved in human information behavior.  Also, Information seeking is a positive and negative emotional experience. The aim was to survey the role of emotions in information behavior.
Method:  Library research method was applied to study theoretical foundations and conceptual relationships of emotions in relation to information needs and related concepts. 
Results: By conceptual studies of the models process of information retrieval behavior of Kuhlthau and Nahl, it was found that emotional factors are very important in information retrieval and information-seeking behavior, which is influenced by negative (uncertainty, fear, anger) and positive emotions (happy, confident, satisfied).  Negative emotions increase at the beginning and over time and in the process of searching for information, decreases, while positive emotions intensifies.  Also,  these results indicate that positive emotions may help individuals acquire information to resolve an existing problem, whereas negative emotions may aid individuals acquire information when there is no apparent problem.
Conclusion:   In order to solve information need and to attain appropriate   desirable feedback, it is necessary that emotions be well identified and understood by both the user and the information systems, so  they could be better controlled.

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Aim: Growing number social network  users for communicating between   groups   has made them a major  segment of people's social life. So, the purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting the use of social networks and information-seeking behavior in daily life of the Kurds in virtual networks and effect of ethnic identity on the behavior of information-seeking in their daily life.
Methodology: Research is an applied and quantitatively exploratory in terms of data analysis.  Questionnaire  was used which its validity was obtained by Delphi method and its reliability based on the weights test model, was significant in all weights of the combined external model with 99% confidence. Population consisted of 70,696 people from different social classes of the Kurds of Kermanshah. The sample size based on Cochran's formula was 480 users who were members of one of the online public and specialized social  networks.
Systematic stratified random sampling was used in terms of percentage of jobs. Bartlett test, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyze the data.
Findings: Findings show that all identified factors have the ability to predict the   behavior of Kurds’ in information seeking in cyberspace: Leisure with standard coefficient of 0.82, cultural information with coefficient of 0.68, scientific information with coefficient of 0.56, economic information with coefficient of 0.75, social information with The coefficient of 0.74 and the consumption pattern with a coefficient of 0.52. Also, language with a coefficient of 0.30 and customs with a standard coefficient of 0.76 can predict the ethnic identity. In addition, virtual networks and ethnic identities with a coefficient of 0.54 are able to predict changes in the informational behavior of Kurds’ everyday life.
Conclusion: Leisure, cultural information, scientific information, economic information, social information, and consumption pattern were discovered and identified as factors influencing information seeking behavior in daily life, as well as language and customs were confirmed as factors of ethnic identity affecting the information-seeking behavior of the Kurds of Kermanshah.

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Background and Aim: Information literacy is a foundation for all information-related professional skills for preparing them for better performing their careers. This applied survey aimed at determining the rate and level of DIL skills among Iranian students in the academic year 2017-2018.
Method: A 20 item  researcher-made valid and reliable questionnaire on DIL was prepared by conducting a comprehensive literature review. Questionnaires were completed by 1875 male/female students as a purposeful sample, majoring in different disciplines, academic levels at different Iranian Universities in the academic year of 2017-2018.  Data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics.
Findings: Findings showed that several students (39.6%) had a relatively low DIL level and the mean rate of their DIL skills was a moderate (8.34 %). Differences were significant in regard to discipline, academic levels and Universities. Further, there was no significant difference between male and female students in their DIL levels. However, there was a significant difference in DIL scores among students majoring basic sciences. Considering the educational levels, Doctorate candidates had significantly higher DIL scores than undergraduate and graduate students.  Students in private Universities had significantly lower DIL scores than students in State Universities.
Conclusion: Disciplinary-based information literacy has not been very efficacious in Iranian Universities. Designing an IL-synthesized curriculum and turning    toward the information literate University in training professionally information-literate students  is the drive for achieving a successful higher education  system in Iran.
Originality/Value: This study has equally theoretical and practical implications. Practically, depicts the general state of Iranian students' DIL levels, it can apprise Iran's higher educational system of the inevitability of drill skills as such in academic curriculum in all educational levels and scientific disciplines. As DIL is initially introduced in this study, it can be inspiring the theoretical approach of information literacy and its literature by adding a newly-emerged notion of "disciplinary-based information literacy."   

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Background and Aim: The purpose was to analyze the effect of administrators professional ethics on teachers' ethical decision making by examining the mediating role of information literacy among teachers in the second district of Urmia.
Method: Study is a descriptive, correlational survey.  Population comprised of  982 teachers in District 2, of which 262 were selected by simple random sampling method using Morgan table. Instruments were: Ghasemzadeh et al.'s Professional Ethics Questionnaire (2013), Katl Ethical Decision Making Questionnaire (2003), and Davarpanapah DAS Information Literacy Questionnaire (2008). Validity (content, convergent and divergent) and reliability (factor loading, composite reliability coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient) of the questionnaires indicated that the measuring instruments have a good validity and reliability.
Results: Results of hypotheses testing by SMART-PLS software,  using t-test and path coefficients (β) showed that professional ethics has a strong, direct significant effect on information literacy of teachers in District Two of Urmia. Also, professional ethics and information literacy have a strong, direct significant effect on the moral decision-making of teachers in the second district of Urmia. Then again, information literacy can play a mediating role in the relation of professional ethics and teachers 'ethical decision-making. Professional ethics may be used as a moderating variable to enhance the positive effect, information literacy has on teachers' ethical decision-making.
Conclusion: Managers through in-service training increase teachers' information literacy, subsequently creating an honest relationship with teachers to transfer ethics to them and participate in decision-making to prove responsibility and honesty in matters to them and in the result of school affairs is going well.

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Purpose and background: One usually think of information as means to an end.  Despite the excessive worth of information - contrary to man's inherent need for awareness - some avoid information, favoring ignorance over knowledge. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the concept of information evasion, consequences and factors influencing it.
Methodology: The study was a systematic review of literature associated with information avoidance. Initially, terms such as "Information rejection," "Information escape,"  "Information avoidance,"   "Nonuse of information" were searched in the WoS and Scopus citation databases, as well as the Persian databases of Noormags, Sid, Elmnet, and the comprehensive humanities portal. MAXQDA software was used to study and analyze the literature.
Findings: Information avoidance is a set of selective behaviors and actions intended to stop, limit, and/or delay the search for, the encounter with, the processing of, and/or the use of unpleasant information. Information avoidance is multidimensional information. Various factors affect information avoidance some of which are personal, and some are environmental. Information avoidance has many types, including active and passive, comprehensive and selective, deliberate and defensive.
Conclusion: Some people avoid information by predicting the impact of information on their present or future lives. Information avoidance is still not well understood because a good deal of research has focused on information avoidance from a specific perspective. Although research streams cross at various points in terms of information avoidance. Given the harmful consequences of information avoidance, research policy should pay special attention to this issue so that, with the help of researchers in other fields, a solution can be found.

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Aim: There is a framework of the organizational cybernetics so-called Viable System Model (VSM) that identifies a viable management plan in all general key channels of information that need to be maintained. The purpose was to evaluate the constructive facets of the organization and identify areas of organizations cybernetics.
Methodology: Theoretical analysis method evaluates the VSM among the scientific articles published from 2000 to 2020, which are indexed in Scopus and ISI databases. Thus, of 180 articles, the abstract and content of 51 were reviewed.
Findings:  A viable system (VS) is composed of five interactive sub-systems which may mapped on aspects of organizational structure. The study of the organizations’ collaboration based on the type of environment among the selected articles stated that the highest rate of application of the VSM with 52.9% were in industrial units and then educational institutions with 21.6%.
Conclusion:  Understanding the structure and operational functions, evaluating the complexities of systems and its subsets and guiding effective mechanisms in achieving the goals and maintaining the sustainability of the organization are the most important advantages and achievements of the VSM with the organizational cybernetic approach. Using the VSM of software allows users to structure, design and review the system levels of organizations well.

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Aim: The main purpose was to investigate the students’ information sharing behavior in social network sites with a qualitative approach.
Methodology: An applied research with qualitative approach - A Thematic Analysis method was used.  Population consisted of all the students at the Universities in South Khorasan Province affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology who had a  minimum of six months experience in using one of the social network sites such as: Telegram, Instagram or WhatsApp.   A non-probability (non-random), and a snowball sampling procedure was used and 17 persons were interviewed. The semi-structured type of interview was incorporated.
Findings: Results showed that most students’ information sharing was done on Telegram and Instagram, respectively. Eighteen primary codes were provided by  students as motives for information sharing in social network sites. These primary codes were categorized into two main categories (personal and social motives) and seven subcategories. Among all the primary codes of the two main categories, the sub-category of “net-surfing and entertainment” had the highest occurrence. For the types of information shared on social network sites by student, 24 primary codes were obtained. These primary codes were categorized into eight sub-categories and two main categories (knowledge and entertaining information). Among the sub-categories identified, the most recurrently shared types of information were “literary-artistic information” and “scientific-educational information”.
Conclusion: For surfing and entertainments’ own good - information sharing on social network sites could lead to admittance of valuable information. If properly planned, it may function as a suitable platform (available to diverse strata of the society, especially the students, at the lowest possible cost) to attain the best possible practice especially in educational settings.

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Background and Aim: Information Architecture is an organizational meta-method that adopts a tactical approach to the specialized information of the organization using an integrated framework and empowers the management of organizational resources by acquiring and upgrading new information technologies. Therefore, it is essential to be part of the current processes of the organization and the insurance industry.
Method: Mixed research method is applied, in which  evaluation,   observation and researcher experience, checklist, and analytical review of the website is analyzed.   Population is the Central Insurance of the Islamic Republic of Iran website, in which the four components of Information Architecture including organization, labeling, navigation, and search systems are examined based on context, content and user.
Findings: Conferring the research findings, the checklist score of the Insurance website for organization system is 17 points. Furthermore, the rates of positive answers to the total number of questions are 45.94%, 54.38%, 53.84% and 45.65% for organization, labeling, navigation, and search systems respectively. The results indicate that the Insurance website has a moderate to weak position from the organization and search point of view and has a moderate position in the labeling and navigation system.
Conclusion: Information Architecture provides the foundation of the information systems architecture from the underlying level to the interface level for the improvement and excellence of the organization. The checklist used in this research can be useful for evaluating organizational websites and provide added value to the organization, and also can improve the planning and strategic decisions of organization's policy makers.

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Purpose: Application of Information Technology (IT) in organizations, is influenced by a myriad of factors within the context of individuals, organizations, and the environment. These factors might facilitate or hinder the correct use of information technology in the organizations.   The main reason for organizations using information technology is to increase the organizational productivity.  So, recognizing factors contributing to the application of IT can be vital for any organizations.
Methodology: Method applied was Meta-analysis which was computed by Comprehensive Meta Analysis (CMA2) software. Findings of the previous research conducted in the IT application in Iran were scrutinized  with the aim of evaluating comparing the magnitude of each factor. 
Findings: Findings recognized 27 factors from 65 studies. Among the 27 effective factors in the IT application: IT skills, organizational structure, organizational culture, motivation and organizational environment had the highest effect. Gender, education, and age had the lowest effects. In order to simplify the findings, factors were classified in three groups:   individual factors, organizational factors and environmental factors of which organizational factors had the highest effect size with  a score of 0.617 and individual factors had the lowest effect size with a score of 0.493.
Conclusion: Iranian organizations incorporating information technology must pay added attention to the dimensions of staff skills, organizational structure and employee motivation.