Types of lexicographical information needs and their relevance for information science

Henning Bergenholtz; Heidi Agerbo Pedersen

Types of lexicographical information needs and their relevance for information science

Henning Bergenholtz, Heidi Agerbo Pedersen

School of Communication and Culture - Centre for Lexicography

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

In some situations, you need information in order to solve a problem that has occurred. In information science, user needs are often described through very specific examples rather than through a classification of situation types in which information needs occur. Furthermore, information science often describes general human needs, typically with a reference to Maslow’s classification of needs (1954), instead of actual information needs. Lexicography has also focused on information needs, but has developed a more abstract classification of types of information needs, though (until more recent research into lexicographical functions) with a particular interest in linguistic uncertainties and the lack of knowledge and skills in relation to one or several languages. In this article, we suggest a classification of information needs in which a tripartition has been made according to the different types of situations: communicative needs, cognitive needs, and operative needs. This is a classification that is relevant and useful in general in our modern information society and therefore also relevant for information science, including lexicography.

Original language	English
Journal	JISTaP, Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
Volume	5
Issue	3
Pages (from-to)	23-38
Number of pages	16
ISSN	2287-4577
Publication status	Published - 20 Oct 2017

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title = "Types of lexicographical information needs and their relevance for information science",

abstract = "In some situations, you need information in order to solve a problem that has occurred. In information science, user needs are often described through very specific examples rather than through a classification of situation types in which information needs occur. Furthermore, information science often describes general human needs, typically with a reference to Maslow{\textquoteright}s classification of needs (1954), instead of actual information needs. Lexicography has also focused on information needs, but has developed a more abstract classification of types of information needs, though (until more recent research into lexicographical functions) with a particular interest in linguistic uncertainties and the lack of knowledge and skills in relation to one or several languages. In this article, we suggest a classification of information needs in which a tripartition has been made according to the different types of situations: communicative needs, cognitive needs, and operative needs. This is a classification that is relevant and useful in general in our modern information society and therefore also relevant for information science, including lexicography.",

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Types of lexicographical information needs and their relevance for information science. / Bergenholtz, Henning; Pedersen, Heidi Agerbo.
In: JISTaP, Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice, Vol. 5, No. 3, 20.10.2017, p. 23-38.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Types of lexicographical information needs and their relevance for information science

AU - Bergenholtz, Henning

AU - Pedersen, Heidi Agerbo

PY - 2017/10/20

Y1 - 2017/10/20

N2 - In some situations, you need information in order to solve a problem that has occurred. In information science, user needs are often described through very specific examples rather than through a classification of situation types in which information needs occur. Furthermore, information science often describes general human needs, typically with a reference to Maslow’s classification of needs (1954), instead of actual information needs. Lexicography has also focused on information needs, but has developed a more abstract classification of types of information needs, though (until more recent research into lexicographical functions) with a particular interest in linguistic uncertainties and the lack of knowledge and skills in relation to one or several languages. In this article, we suggest a classification of information needs in which a tripartition has been made according to the different types of situations: communicative needs, cognitive needs, and operative needs. This is a classification that is relevant and useful in general in our modern information society and therefore also relevant for information science, including lexicography.

AB - In some situations, you need information in order to solve a problem that has occurred. In information science, user needs are often described through very specific examples rather than through a classification of situation types in which information needs occur. Furthermore, information science often describes general human needs, typically with a reference to Maslow’s classification of needs (1954), instead of actual information needs. Lexicography has also focused on information needs, but has developed a more abstract classification of types of information needs, though (until more recent research into lexicographical functions) with a particular interest in linguistic uncertainties and the lack of knowledge and skills in relation to one or several languages. In this article, we suggest a classification of information needs in which a tripartition has been made according to the different types of situations: communicative needs, cognitive needs, and operative needs. This is a classification that is relevant and useful in general in our modern information society and therefore also relevant for information science, including lexicography.

KW - cognitive situation

KW - communicative situation

KW - information need

KW - information science

KW - lexicography

KW - operative situation

KW - user situation

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M3 - Journal article

SN - 2287-4577

VL - 5

SP - 23

EP - 38

JO - JISTaP, Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice

JF - JISTaP, Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice

IS - 3

ER -

Types of lexicographical information needs and their relevance for information science

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