Theories for practitioners: two frameworks for studying consumer health information-seeking behavior.
Consumer health information studies in library and information science (LIS) are typically not grounded within a theoretical framework. This article explains the importance of theory to LIS research in general, and the specific value of using theories from other disciplines to study consumers' health information-seeking behavior. The argument is supported with two examples: Miller's psychological theory of blunting and monitoring behavior and Granovetter's sociological theory of the strength of weak ties. These theories can be applied by practitioner-researchers to investigate a variety of research problems.
Baker
L M
LM
Wayne State University, Library and Information Science Program, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
Pettigrew
K E
KE
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007998:Library Science; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012919:Social Behavior