Accidental information discovery : cultivating serendipity in the digital age / edited by Tammera M. Race, Stephann Makri.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Race, Tammera M., editor.

Makri, Stephann, editor.

Series:

Chandos information professional series

Chandos Information Professional Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Information behavior.

Physical Description:

xvii, 118 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, MA : Chandos Publishing is an imprint of Elsevier; [2016]

Summary:

Many of our jobs and everyday routines involve finding information. But sometimes information finds us, and unexpectedly. Sometimes we accidentally discover useful information, when looking for something else, or when not looking for anything in particular. These unexpected information discoveries are examples of serendipity. Serendipity can propel us in exciting and surprising new directions, delivering new knowledge, igniting creativity, and spurring innovation. While serendipity involves some chance, it is more than blind luck. It cannot be controlled, but it can be influenced. It cannot be created on demand, but it can be cultivated. Accidental Information Discovery brings together multidisciplinary discussions from the fields of Information Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Educational Psychology, and Creativity Studies. These discussions focus on how we can cultivate serendipity by making room for it in our lives and by creating opportunities for it through the design of both academic learning environments and digital information environments. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Introducing Serendipity / T.M. Race Race, T.M., S. Makri Makri, S. 1

History of "Serendipity" 4

Serendipity and Scientific Discovery 4

Serendipity, Creativity, and Innovation 6

Serendipity and Information Discovery 8

References 11

2 Making Room for Serendipity / T.M. Race Race, T.M., S. Makri Makri, S. 15

Introduction 16

Serendipity, Creativity, and Innovation 16

Factors That Can Enable Serendipity 16

Internal Factors 17

External Factors 20

Factors That Can Inhibit Serendipity 22

Internal Barriers 22

External Barriers 23

Conclusion 25

References 25

3 Teaching Serendipity / P.M. Ryder Ryder, P.M., J. Nutefail Nutefail, J. 27

Thinking About Serendipity Pedagogically 28

Serendipity in Practice: Faculty and Librarians Teaching "Ways-of-Doing" 32

Serendipity in Academic Situations That Call for Empirical inquiry 33

Serendipity in Academic Situations That Call for Problem-Solving 36

Serendipity in Academic Situations That Call for Research From Sources 41

Additional Considerations for Teaching Serendipity 47

References 50

4 Serendipity in Current Digital Information Environments / S. Makri Makri, S., T.M. Race Race, T.M. 53

Introduction 54

Serendipity in Search Environments 54

Serendipity in Browse Environments 60

Serendipity in Social Networking Environments 63

Serendipity in Library Discovery Tools; Next-Generation Catalogs and Web-Scale Discovery Tools 66

Library Discovery Tools as Search Environments: Search Diversification, Search Suggestion, and Document Recommendation 68

Finding Serendipity 76

References 78

5 Serendipity in Future Digital Information Environments 81

Introduction 82

Chapter 5.1 Serendipity in a Connected World / A. McBirnie McBirnie, A. 83

A Few Questions and an Assumption 84

Serendipity, Connectivity, and the Predigital Age 84

The Virtual and the Real 85

The End of the Virtual as a Realm Apart 86

Unequal Connectivity 87

Digital Age Serendipity 88

A Way Forward 89

Notes 89

References 90

Chapter 5.2 The Role We Play in Driving Information Discovery: Serendipity and Spreadabiltty / S. Ford Ford, S. 92

References 98

Chapter 5.3 Digital Information Environments That Facilitate Serendipity / L McCoy-Peet McCoy-Peet, L 100

Serendipity in Digital Information Environments 101

Support for Serendipity 101

Conclusion 103

References 104

Chapter 5.4 Supporting Serendipity In Digital Information Environments / S. Makri Makri, S. 105

Introduction 106

Designing to Support Serendipity 106

The Serendipity Process 108

Supporting the Serendipity Process Through Design 108

Supporting Making Connections 109

Supporting Projecting and Exploiting the Value of Connections 111

Potential for Future Support 112

References 113.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781843347507

1843347504

OCLC:

885228780

Publisher Number:

99968594653