A transitional approach to the study of the information behavior of domestic migrant workers: A narrative inquiry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the life stories of migrant workers in Israel by analyzing different aspects of the information behavior that emerged from their narratives through a transitional perspective.Design/methodology/approachNarratives are a human way of communication that fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of documentation 2019-03, Vol.75 (2), p.314-333
Main Author: Bronstein, Jenny
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access to Information
Annual Reports
Barriers
Career Change
Citizen Participation
Citizenship
Content analysis
Domestic service
Educational Experience
Employment
Holistic Approach
Host country
Inclusion
Information Needs
Information seeking behavior
Information sources
Migrant workers
Migrants
Migration
Narratives
Noncitizens
Perceptions
Public libraries
Research Methodology
Social factors
Social Isolation
Social networks
Social support
Society
Socioeconomic data
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Summary:PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the life stories of migrant workers in Israel by analyzing different aspects of the information behavior that emerged from their narratives through a transitional perspective.Design/methodology/approachNarratives are a human way of communication that focuses on the stories people tell about themselves, their inner thoughts, their states of mind and how they perceive their own reality. In total, 20 Spanish-speaking domestic migrant workers were interviewed. The data collected form the narratives were study draws from the transitional theory.FindingsThe holistic phase of the content analysis revealed that participants experienced information poverty based on socioeconomic factors and perceptions of social exclusion, vulnerability and hostile surroundings. The content analysis yielded a theory of transitional information behavior that reflects the three stages of the migration process: ending of a new reality, a period of confusion and a sense of belonging. The theory encompasses four elements: process, disconnectedness, perceptions and patterns of response.Originality/valueThe study proposes an innovative look at information behavior of migrants by integrating a transitional perspective into the life stories of participants.
ISSN:0022-0418
1758-7379
DOI:10.1108/JD-07-2018-0112