According to Dr. Brenda Dervin, she introduced 10 "dubious assumptions" related to information and information seeking. Dervin argued those 10 myths and pointed out why it can be suspicious assumptions.
1. Only 'objective' information is valuable. (can be wrong)
- Our common problem is that we rely on easily available sources of information such as our friends.
- People tend to settle for the first satisfactory solution to a problem, rather than the best solution.
2. More information is always better. (can be wrong)
- Too much information leads to overload and tends to ignore the information intentionally.
- Having information is not same as being informed.
3. Objective information can be transmitted out of context. (can be wrong)
- People tend to ignore isolated facts when they cannot form a complete picture of them.
- Ex.) People disregard the information if it is not fit on your situation even thought the information is objective itself.
4. Information can only be acquired through formal sources. (can be wrong)
- This assumption usually came from educational institution
- People collect information chiefly from friends and family, etc.
5. There is relevant information for every need.(can be wrong)
- Mere information cannot satisfy many human needs.
- Information cannot substitute for many human needs, nor even facilitate all of them.
6 Every need situation has a solution.(can be wrong)
- Sometimes, the client is looking for something a reassurance, an understanding that does not come in the shape of a canned response.
7. It is always possible to make information available or accessible.(can be wrong)
- Formal information systems are limited.
8. Functional units of information, such as books or TV programs, always fit the needs of the individual.(can be wrong)
- The client cannot always effectively use these units of information
9. Time and space -- individual situations -- can be ignored in addressing information seeking and use.(can be wrong)
- If individuals perceive a lack of predictability and control of an outcome, then they worry. The worry itself becomes a need.
10. People make easy, conflict-free connections between external information and their internal reality.(can be wrong)
- We tend to assume an ordered universe, in which connections exist between the internal and external.
- We tend to ask "what" and "how" rather than "why".
Dervin said that instead of studying what " information does for people" we need to focus on "what people do to information" (p. 333).
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