Multi-method experience sampling in information behaviour research

Abstract

Capturing information behaviours and attitudes that occur in natural settings is a challenge. Observational methods are often intrusive or retrospective proxies, which may change behaviour or misrepresent attitudes. Technology enables novel approaches to in-situ quantitative data collection but rarely explores qualitative reflections; informing researchers on what happened, but not necessarily why. Recent work uses multi-method approaches that combine quantitative data, tracking experiences, feelings, and behaviours over time, with qualitative data to gain deeper insights into subjective experiences. This paper introduces information and library scientists to a multi-method approach to the data collection of subjective experiences over time.