A73.
Cross, R., Rice, R.E., & Parker, A. (2001). Information
seeking
in social context: Structural influences and receipt of information
benefits.
IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics -- Part C, 31(4),
438-478.
Research in the information processing, situated learning and social
network traditions has consistently demonstrated the importance of
relationships
for acquiring information. However, we know little about the
kinds
of informational benefits that people derive from seeking information
from
another person or how formal or social dimensions of relationships
impact
who is sought out for various kinds of information. This research
builds on prior qualitative work illustrating that people often receive
some combination of five informational benefits when seeking
information
from others: 1) solutions; 2) meta-knowledge (pointers to databases or
people); 3) problem reformulation; 4) validation of plans or solutions;
and 5) legitimation from contact with a respected person. This
study
assesses the influence on these informational benefits from task and
social
structural factors such as similarity of job function, hierarchy, task
interdependence, physical proximity, influence, trust, friendship and
gender.
Task interdependence is the strongest and most consistent predictor of
information seeking. However, social dimensions of relationships
also affect what informational benefits are received, especially as
benefits
become more representational and confidence-building, that is, as they
become more conceptual and affective. Implications are drawn for
the study of social capital, computer-mediated communication and
organizational
learning.