本文嘗試以情境因素來解釋資訊尋求行爲,企圖代替一般用來合理化資訊尋求行爲的個人或人口統計上的特質。所設計之情境模型,借用許多其他理論,特別是Grunig的情境學說。此新情境模型可以預測個人何時會尋求資訊、何時會繼續尋求資訊、會不會尋求館員協助、使用何種資訊管道、以及其資訊尋求的態度是情境亦或是超越情境的。簡單的說,此模型可以預測在何種情境之下,讀著會透過何種管道尋求資訊。同時,本文並採用內容分析表的方法,企圖我出可以用來代表情境變數的因素,因此此新情境模型不但是理論性的,也可以透過實驗或統計加以證實。
This paper develops a model to describe an individual's information-seeking behavior in an information seeking environment. The model interprets information-related behavior in terms of how a person relates to a situation, rather than personal or demographic variables. It draws heavily on Grunig's situational theory, In general, this situational model serves well for predicting an d explaining information-seeking behaviour. This model can predict when a person will keep moving forward, when a person will terminated information-seeking, whether a person will approach a professional intermediary or not, what kind of channels will be used by an individual in a situation, and what kind of attitudes will be held by a person in a situation (a situational attitude or across-situational attitude). Finally, it attempts to ta all the indicators of situational variables by using content analytic schemes, so this model will become a testable model.