Quid Pro Quo: Information Sharing in Leisure Activities

Fulton, Crystal

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/13657 Copy

Description

Title

Quid Pro Quo: Information Sharing in Leisure Activities

Author(s)

Fulton, Crystal

Issue Date

2009

Keyword(s)

• Genealogy
• Leisure studies
• Information behavior
• Learning tools
• Hobbies

Abstract

This article explores information sharing in the context of amateur genealogists researching their Irish ancestry. Information sharing is an important feature of this hobby, with individuals networking with others to supplement information they have found when searching sources. Because of the nature of the hobby, reciprocal sharing behavior may be significant in this process. This study adopted a multi-case, exploratory approach to learning about amateur genealogists’ sharing behavior associated with their information seeking. Twenty-four amateur genealogists from around the world participated in semi-structured telephone interviews about their hunt for their Irish ancestors. Data were transcribed and analyzed to identify patterns and conditions of information sharing between participants as they researched their genealogy. Participants in this study were avid information seekers, who prized information sharing as a means of advancing their research. The Internet played a central role in information sharing. Particular social norms surrounded the sharing of information that shaped interactions, including expectations of reciprocal information sharing. The findings of this study suggest that information sharing is an important feature of hobby participation for amateur genealogists, supporting learning as well as achievement in locating one’s ancestors. Reciprocal information behavior strengthened social relationships between genealogists and multiple information sharing events solidified the network positions of individuals as information champions.

Publisher

Johns Hopkins University Press and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

ISSN

0024-2594

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/13657

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2009 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

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