Cuatro tradiciones en la investigacion del usuario: user studies, information behaviour, information practice e information experience

González-Teruel, Aurora Cuatro tradiciones en la investigacion del usuario: user studies, information behaviour, information practice e information experience. AIB studi, 2019, vol. 58, n. 3. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

Despite the fact that user research constitutes a consolidated area of study with defined limits, it can entail terminological difficulties for researchers who are not familiar with it. This type of research can be traced, at least, under four different headings: user studies or information needs and uses studies; information behaviour or information-seeking behaviour; information practices and information experience. This paper presents a basic analysis of the founding theoretical and methodological features which help understand what is behind these headlines, why they came to be used and what kind of research can be found under these four headings. The aim is to facilitate the exhaustive retrieval of specialized bibliography, as well as critical reading, taking into account these theoretical and methodological considerations.

Spanish abstract

Spanish A pesar de que la investigación del usuario constituye un área de estudio consolidada y con unos límites establecidos, su abordaje para aquellos investigadores no familiarizados con ella, entraña dificultades de tipo terminológico. Este tipo de investigaciones se pueden encontrar, al menos, bajo cuatro epígrafes distintos: estudios de usuarios o de necesidades y usos de la información (User studies o Information needs and uses studies), estudios de comportamiento informacional o comportamiento de búsqueda de información (Information behaviour o information-seeking behaviour), estudios de las prácticas de información (Information practices) y estudios de la experiencia de información (Information experience). Este trabajo presenta un análisis de las coordenadas teóricas y metodológicas básicas a partir de las cuales comprender qué hay detrás de estas expresiones, por qué comenzaron a emplearse y qué tipo de investigación se puede encontrar bajo esos cuatro epígrafes. Se pretende facilitar a los profesionales e investigadores interesados en esta materia, la recuperación exhaustiva de la bibliografía especializada así como la lectura crítica atendiendo a esas consideraciones teóricas y metodológicas. English Despite the fact that user research constitutes a consolidated area of study with established limits, it can entail terminological difficulties for researchers who are not familiar with it. This type of research can be found, at least, under four different epigraphs: user studies or Information needs and uses studies, information behaviour or information-seeking behaviour, information practices and information experience. This paper presents a basic analysis of the basic theoretical and methodological features from which to understand what is behind these expressions, why they began to be used and what kind of research can be found under these four epigraphs. The aim is to facilitate the exhaustive retrieval of specialized bibliography, as well as critical reading, taking into account these theoretical and methodological considerations.

Italian abstract

Nonostante il fatto che la ricerca sull’utenza costituisca un’area di studio consolidata e ben delimitata, l’approccio può comportare difficoltà terminologiche per i ricercatori che non abbiano familiarità con essa. Questo tipo di ricerca ricade perlomeno sotto quattro diverse intestazioni: studi sull’utenza o sui bisogni e usi dell’informazione; comportamento informativo o comportamento nella ricerca di informazioni; studi sulle pratiche informative e studi sull’esperienza informativa. Questo articolo presenta un’analisi di base delle caratteristiche fondanti, teoretiche e metodologiche, che permettono di capire cosa vi sia dietro a queste espressioni, perché siano entrate nell’uso e che tipo di ricerca possa essere identificata sotto ciascuna di queste esse. Lo scopo è di facilitare il recupero esaustivo di bibliografia specializzata, così come la lettura critica, tenendo conto di queste considerazioni teoretiche e metodologiche.

Spanish abstract

SpanishA pesar de que la investigación del usuario constituye un área de estudio consolidada y con unos límites establecidos, su abordaje para aquellos investigadores no familiarizados con ella, entraña dificultades de tipo terminológico. Este tipo de investigaciones se pueden encontrar, al menos, bajo cuatro epígrafes distintos: estudios de usuarios o de necesidades y usos de la información (User studies o Information needs and uses studies), estudios de comportamiento informacional o comportamiento de búsqueda de información (Information behaviour o information-seeking behaviour), estudios de las prácticas de información (Information practices) y estudios de la experiencia de información (Information experience). Este trabajo presenta un análisis de las coordenadas teóricas y metodológicas básicas a partir de las cuales comprender qué hay detrás de estas expresiones, por qué comenzaron a emplearse y qué tipo de investigación se puede encontrar bajo esos cuatro epígrafes. Se pretende facilitar a los profesionales e investigadores interesados en esta materia, la recuperación exhaustiva de la bibliografía especializada así como la lectura crítica atendiendo a esas consideraciones teóricas y metodológicas.EnglishDespite the fact that user research constitutes a consolidated area of study with established limits, it can entail terminological difficulties for researchers who are not familiar with it. This type of research can be found, at least, under four different epigraphs: user studies or Information needs and uses studies, information behaviour or information-seeking behaviour, information practices and information experience. This paper presents a basic analysis of the basic theoretical and methodological features from which to understand what is behind these expressions, why they began to be used and what kind of research can be found under these four epigraphs. The aim is to facilitate the exhaustive retrieval of specialized bibliography, as well as critical reading, taking into account these theoretical and methodological considerations.

Item type:	Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords:	information behaviour; information practice; information experience
Subjects:	C. Users, literacy and reading.
Date deposited:	21 Aug 2026 06:18
Last modified:	27 Aug 2026 04:33
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/10760/48191

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