Online dating is a popular phenomenon in the world. Since the main motivation for individuals to use online dating services is finding a partner, the communication strategies for the users to develop a relationship via online dating services and the different communication practices between online and offline dating are thought-provoking. This research aims to answer two research questions: what the communication strategies for online daters of Soul are and what the differences between online and offline dating for users of Soul, including communication practices are. These two research questions aim to increase the possibility of having a successful online dating and provide a deep insight into online dating. Based on the theoretical frameworks of uncertainty reduction theory, social information processing theory, and the hyperpersonal communication, this research interviewed 11 Chinese online daters in the application, Soul and observed their online activities. As a result, this research finds that when encounter with the potential partners, individuals will actively seek information to reduce their uncertainty. The most effective way is interrogation while the most common way is observing personal account. During the information-seeking process, the similarities including interests and hobbies are important. Self-presentation strategies contain the planning strategy, editing strategy, and the strategy of adaptation to the characteristics of the partner. Besides information seeking strategies and self-presentation strategies, individuals also use the long-term arrangement strategy. The differences between online and offline dating contain three aspects: communication practices of information processing (including information processing, communication patterns as well as communication attitudes), the imagined others through online dating communication and different social norms.

This study began with an interest in corporate libraries and a genuine curiosity in the information preferences and resources valued by executive leaders at JET Aircraft Co. Executive information preferences and the downward trend in special libraries initiated the investigation of information seeking among executive leaders and yielded the inquiry: What resources do JET Aircraft Co. executives value when they need information? Employing an ethnographic approach, this study investigated what JET Aircraft Co. executives know about information resources, what they believe about information resources, and how they act when they require information. While JET Aircraft Co. maintained a special corporate library called the Company Research Library (CRL), the purpose of this study was to determine what resources were of value to executives at JET Aircraft Co., understanding that the CRL may or may not be a resource executives’ value. As a byproduct, this study also sought to establish executive information preferences and perceptions of the CRL. Information seeking at the executive level, studied through an ethnographic lens, provided insight into how executives at JET Aircraft Co. work and what they prefer, and it established a baseline for the Company Research Library’s position among the resources valued by executives.

Les travaux de cette thèse portent sur les conséquences du développement du numérique sur la pratique de recherche en SHS au sens large et en histoire en particulier. L'introduction du numérique bouleverse les pratiques de recherche en histoire en mettant à disposition du chercheur un grand volume de sources numérisées ainsi que de nombreux outils d'analyse et d'écriture. Si ces nouveaux moyens de recherche permettent à la discipline d'adopter de nouvelles approches et de renouveler certains points de vue, ils posent également des questions sur les plans méthodologique et épistémologique. Devant ce constat, nous avons choisi d'étudier plus en détail l'impact des outils de recherche d'information, bibliothèques numériques et moteurs de recherche de sources sur l'activité de recherche en histoire. Ces systèmes offrent un accès à un grand volume de documents historiques mais leur fonctionnement repose sur des traitements informatiques pour la plupart invisibles aux yeux des utilisateurs, qui peuvent ainsi s'apparenter à des boîtes noires. L'objectif principal de cette thèse est donc de donner les moyens aux utilisateurs d'observer et de comprendre ces processus dans l'optique de leur permettre d'en intégrer les effets de bord à leur méthodologie. Afin de mieux positionner notre objet d'étude, nous proposons un cadre conceptuel reposant sur la notion de ressource numérique. Ce concept représente les systèmes numériques que nous étudions au sein de leur contexte d'usage, de production et d'exécution, il fait le lien entre des usages attendus par les utilisateurs et des choix méthodologiques ou techniques issus des présupposés de ces concepteurs. Sur la base de ce cadre conceptuel, nous proposons une analyse des bibliothèques numériques et moteurs de recherche de sources en fonction de chacun des contextes. Ainsi, notre étude propose une analyse des usages de ce type de ressource numérique dans le cadre d'une recherche en histoire en adoptant une démarche expérimentale et en produisant des indicateurs de la pratique. Ces indicateurs sont ensuite croisés avec le fonctionnement du système, dans ces contextes de production et d'exécution, pour en révéler les biais méthodologiques. À l'issue de ces analyses, nous proposons un réinvestissement de ces résultats sous la forme d'un outil logiciel dédié à l'enseignement d'une approche critique de la recherche d'information en ligne pour les apprentis historiens. Ces travaux sont évalués par une démarche expérimentale. Elle est construite sur la base d'un prototype d'observation du comportement des utilisateurs en situation de recherche d'information et des outils de démonstration des biais associés au fonctionnement des processus informatiques impliqués lors des phases de production des contenus et d'exécution du système. Ce prototype a fait l'objet de plusieurs phases d'expérimentation liées à son développement, l'évaluation de ces fonctionnalités et de son impact sur la pratique dans un contexte de formation. / The work of this thesis focuses on the consequences of digital technology development on research practice in the humanities in the broad sense and particularly in history. The introduction of digital technology disrupts historical research practices by making available to the researcher a large volume of digitized sources as well as numerous analysis and writing tools. These new capacities of research allow the discipline to adopt new approaches and renew certain points of view, but they also raise methodological and epistemological questions. Given this observation, we have chosen to study in more detail the impact of information retrieval tools, digital libraries and search engines on historical research activity. These systems offer access to a large volume of historical documents but they depend on computer processes that are mostly invisible to users and acting as black boxes. The main objective of this work is to give users the means to observe and understand these processes in order to allow them to integrate their side effects in a suitable methodology. In order to better position our object of study, we propose a conceptual framework based on the notion of digital resource. This concept represents the digital systems that we study within their contexts of use, production and execution. It connects uses expected by users and methodological or technical choices based on the assumptions of system designers. Based on this conceptual framework, we propose an analysis of digital libraries and historical sources search engines according to each context. Thus, our study proposes an analysis of the uses of this type of digital resource within the framework of a research in history. The study adopts an experimental approach and produces indicators of the practice. These indicators are then crossed with the functioning of the system, in its contexts of production and execution, to reveal the potential methodological biases. Following these analyzes, we propose a reinvestment of these results in the form of a software tool dedicated to teaching a critical approach to online information retrieval for student in history. This work is evaluated by an experimental approach. It is built on the basis of a prototype of observation of the behavior of the users when they are looking for information. Our experimental approach is also based on demonstration tools of the biases associated with the functioning of the computer processes involved during the contexts of production and execution. This prototype has been the subject of several experimental phases related to its development, the evaluation of these features and its impact on practice in a training context.

Background. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Low survival rates have been attributed to delays to diagnosis, and some patients report having symptoms for several months before presenting to health services. Strategies are needed to encourage timely help-seeking. The Web is increasingly used as a health information source. Aim. The aim of this thesis is to explore whether the Web plays a role in help-seeking behaviour of people with lung cancer prior to diagnosis, and how the Web can be utilised to encourage earlier presentation to health services for symptomatic people. Systematic review. To begin, I carried out a systematic review of the literature (N=34), which highlighted a scarcity of research on Web use for symptom appraisal among cancer populations. Mixed-methods study. I conducted a survey with recently diagnosed (6 months or less) lung cancer patients (N=113). Based on survey responses, I purposively selected a sub-sample of patients and their family/friends ("proxies") for semi-structured interviews (N=33). In the survey, 20.4% of participants reported they or proxies had researched their condition online before the diagnosis. Interview results suggest perceived impacts of online information on symptom appraisal, forming the decision to seek help, and on interactions with healthcare professionals. Intervention development and evaluation. Based on my findings, I developed a Web-based intervention. The intervention provides tailored information about lung cancer, and uses components based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour ("TPB-components") to encourage earlier help-seeking. This intervention was tested in an online feasibility study (N=130), and subsequently in an online randomised controlled trial (N=212) with a factorial design to test main and interaction effects of tailoring and TPB-components. The feasibility study and first trial helped identify methodological issues which were addressed in a second trial with a mixed factorial design. This trial (N=253) indicated that the self-reported likelihood of visiting a doctor increased significantly by 11.8% from before to after viewing study information (p < 0.001), but no effects of tailoring or TPB-components were found. When examining only those aged ≥50 years, who are at highest risk of lung cancer, those receiving tailored information reported an increase of 13.2% in likelihood of seeking help, compared to 3.2% in the untailored group (p=0.01). Participants aged 50+ receiving the TPB-component reported a larger increase (13.8%) than those who did not receive the TPB-component (5.2%), but this did not meet the significance criterion (p=0.054). Conclusions. According to patients' perceptions, the Web can impact on processes in the appraisal, help-seeking and diagnostic interval leading up to diagnosis. Presentation of information about symptoms and risk factors online can produce significant effects on self-reported likelihood of seeking help. These findings indicate that there is potential for the Web to be utlised in the endeavour to educate the public about symptoms and to promote earlier presentation to health services, but due to small effects and differential dropout in this study, further research is required.

The Internet offers potential for reducing professional isolation of Appalachian health care providers by enhancing access to medical information and facilitating contact with colleagues. However, there is a gap in the knowledge of current computer and Internet access in Appalachia, and in the technology-related behaviors and attitudes of health care professionals there. This study examined Internet-related access and behaviors of Appalachian family physicians and advanced practice nurses. A survey was mailed to 429 graduates of East Tennessee State University's family medicine residency and advanced practice nursing programs currently in practice in southern and central Appalachia. Demographic information was collected from ETSU graduate records. The Dillman survey method included a pre-notice letter, two survey mailings, and post card and telephone follow-ups. Two hundred sixty-four providers (61.5%) returned surveys. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Respondents were similar to the total population in gender, provider discipline, age, and percentage in rural practice. Workplace computer access was common; 59.6% had sole access and 40.2% shared access. Internet access was: 82.7% broadband, 13.5% dial-up, and 2.4% no access. Although rural providers were more likely than urban to have slower dial-up access, they regularly used the Internet. Over 75% of providers accessed the Internet at home for work; 34% reported dial-up and 66% broadband home connection. Although 50% used the Internet for continuing education in 2004, most preferred in-person workshops or print-based modes of continuing education; 58.9% e-mailed daily and 80% accessed medical information via the Internet regularly. Other Internet uses included accessing online journals and patient information, receiving professional association updates, filing insurance, and writing prescriptions. The Internet is ubiquitous in Appalachia; health care providers access it for a variety of professional activities daily. Telemedicine was not a popular technological innovation. Of those 20.8% reporting telemedicine availability in the practice, few used it. When presented with a list of possible benefits of telemedicine, 41.1% selected "none of the above". Although many technological innovations are used regularly by Appalachian health care providers, barriers to the use of new technologies lie more in attitudes than in technology access.

This dissertation addresses a specific aspect of the broad area of communication systems used among researchers. This research has undertaken to establish a broader view of the communication practices of scholars to understand the motivations behind their publication choices. Open access offers a solution to issues with the scholarly publication system such as delays in publication and restricted visibility of research due to high subscription costs. The principle of open access is to enable maximum access to findings from publicly funded research to maximise social returns on public investments. Despite the apparent benefits of open access, the uptake has been limited. ¶ This thesis research takes a holistic view of the researcher as a communicator to uncover the reasons why researchers are making the publishing decisions they are. In-depth interviews were conducted with 43 researchers in three disciplines at two institutions, the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales. The disciplines, Chemistry, Sociology and Computer Science, were known to have different publication practices, The questions asked about all aspects of researcher communication including researching, authoring, informal communication, article submission, refereeing, mentoring and data storage. ¶ The findings show that traditional arguments for open access are ineffective. The Reward function of scholarly publishing is central to managing academic careers and supports traditional publishing systems. While having work openly accessible increases an academic’s exposure and possibly therefore their citation counts, unless alternative internet-based forms of metrics are adopted, the open access option will not directly appeal to researchers. ¶ Information-seeking behaviour demonstrates how disciplinary differences affect researcher’s interaction with technology. The disciplines showed marked differences in almost all the areas explored, and the behavioural norms expressed in each discipline have direct bearing on the likelihood of members of that discipline embracing open access. The ‘institutional/disciplinary divide’ means that researchers must publish in ways that run counter to their disciplinary norms in order to satisfy institutional and grant funding requirements. ¶ Until governments, and particularly university administrations, recognise the need to consider the discipline and the need to consider the individual and respond to these needs, and until there is a realisation that different disciplines may require radically different approaches, there will not be a large-scale adoption by individual researchers of the current open access tools. Either institutional repositories need to adapt dramatically to offer work practice benefits or the broader academic population will only use institutional repositories under duress, which is not the situation envisaged by open access advocates. The alternative is for communities to develop their own subject-based repositories, a development that again is likely to be highly dependent on communication norms in different disciplines.

This thesis presents a grounded theory of the flow experiences of Web users engaged in information-seeking activities. The term flow refers to a state of consciousness that is sometimes experienced by individuals who are deeply involved in an enjoyable activity. The experience is characterised by some common elements: a balance between the challenges of an activity and the skills required to meet those challenges; clear goals and feedback; concentration on the task at hand; a sense of control; a merging of action and awareness; a loss of self-consciousness; a distorted sense of time; and the autotelic experience.¶ Researchers have recently proposed Csikszentmihalyi's flow theory as a useful framework for understanding the enjoyment experienced by Web users, but they have struggled to operationalise key constructs such as flow and challenge in their quantitative models. This study aimed to address that problem by providing a better understanding of the nature of flow as experienced by Web users engaged in information-seeking activities. The theory that was developed during this study encompasses the following topics:¶ - the role that curiosity and time urgency play in the formation of a Web user's information-seeking goals and subsequent navigation behaviour;¶ - the challenges that Web users face when seeking information, the skills they use in meeting those challenges, and the relationship that exists between challenges and skills;¶ - the important role that focused attention plays in the flow experiences of Web users, elements that help to focus a user's attention, and elements that are distracting; and¶ - various dimensions of the flow experiences of Web users, which include a joy of discovery, a reduced awareness of factors that are irrelevant to the task at hand, a distorted sense of time, a merging of action and awareness, a sense of control, mental alertness, and telepresence.¶ The grounded theory research method that was employed in this study is a primarily inductive investigative process in which the researcher formulates a theory about a phenomenon by systematically gathering and analysing relevant data. The purpose of this research method is building theory, not testing theory. The data that was gathered for this study primarily consisted of semi-structured in-depth interviews with informants of varying gender, age, educational attainments, occupations and Web experience who could recall experiencing flow while using the Web.¶ An important distinction between this study and other investigations into the flow experiences of Web users is the way it goes beyond sheer associations to propose explanations for how and why certain events occur - explanations that are grounded in the data rather than deduced from the literature. This study is the first of its type on this subject, and as such, it provides a useful counterpoint to previous quantitative studies.

The present study focussed on the information needs of the academic staff of Batchelor College.* It examined their access to and the provision of adequate and appropriate resources for the implementation of the Diploma and Associate Diploma level courses offered through the College. Batchelor College, an institute of tertiary education, is situated 100 kilometres south of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The content and the modes of delivery of Batchelor College courses are specifically designed to be culturally and socially appropriate to Aboriginal people, particularly those from traditionally oriented and 'remote' communities. It can only be within this framework that informed and sensitive research can be conducted. The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the information needs of staff delivering higher education courses to 'remote' Aboriginal students of Northern Australia. Six distinct areas of study emerged: 1, to identify the information needs; 2, to analyse the information-seeking behaviour; 3, to assess the level of satisfaction with current information sources; 4, to identify inadequacies in the existing information seeking processes; 5, to identify constraints experienced; and 6, to explore how future information needs may be catered for. A mailed survey instrument was specifically designed and implemented, and it attracted a response rate of eighty-seven percent. The population under investigation was the academic staff of Batchelor College, and the variables of: 1, location; 2, sex; 3, academic school; 4, designation; 5, tenure; 6, length of service; and 7, educational background were studied in relation to the questions asked. Results of the survey were analysed using 'Mystat: Statistical Applications', (1990). Frequency distributions were computed to determine the number of respondents who selected each option. A number of questions that elicited a written response were analysed, as were the many extra comments staff members made throughout the survey. The study found that the academic staff of Batchelor College are most affected by the location variable. It appears that how staff members use, regard and value the information sources used to inform their academic practice is affected by where a staff member is located. That is, the more isolated a staff member was, both geographically and professionally, the more significant were the findings of use of information sources. The study concludes with considerations of future planning strategies that could improve the access to and use of information. The study also identifies areas for further research. * Batchelor College, an institute of tertiary education, is situated 100 kilometres south of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia (see Appendix 3).

In the recent past, people were used to consult health care professionals or textbooks in order to find answer to health related questions. Now, the availability of medical information through electronic resources has changed people&lsquo / s information-seeking behaviors and, as a result, electronic information resources have become very popular and frequently used for health related searches. This study examines the online health information-seeking behaviors of middle aged and older people from Middle East Technical University and 100. Yil neighbourhood, specially demographic and other factors effecting online health information seeking, the types of sought online health information, assessment of the online health information, and reliability criteria of middle aged and older online health information seekers. A cross-sectional design was used to collect data. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to participants. The final sample was 248 middle aged and older people. Findings show that middle aged and older employees from Middle East Technical University and 100. Yil neighbourhood are searching for health information especially for specific illnesses. They are using this information to self-treat or self-diagnose. Worse health conditions, expertise level in internet usage associates with searching behavior. Majority of the participants trust in information they found online but they do not share it with any health care professional.

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