[Purpose/significance] The multiple perspective solutions of information disparity have some disadvantages such as the lack of integrated perspective, the ignorance of core position for the information agents and the absence of information utility. The core question what the disparities are in informational capabilities among different agents with the orientation of information utility and why the disparity appear are the focus of this paper. [Method/process] Combined with the redefinition of informational capability and analysis based on grounded theory, it puts forward the General Model of Informational Capability. [Result/conclusion] Structural, agent and context factors contribute to informational capabilities which present as functional activities in information practice. Structural factors include economic conditions, social norms, policy and regulation, infrastructure and information resource, etc., while the agent factors include individual awareness, skills, knowledge and social network, etc.. Besides, the context factors cover time, space and situation. The main conclusions of this paper are as following: Informational capability is the substantive freedom in information behavior and related with information utility and personal development objectives of information agents. In this sense the information disparity could be regarded as the manifestation of informational capability differentiation. Beyond the contribution to information poverty and information inequality, informational capability might also have explanatory influence on information behavior and information service.
Fan Zhenjia
,
Cheng Letian
. Informational Capability as a Concept for Information Disparity: Exploration and Interpretation[J]. Library and Information Service, 2017
, 61(13)
: 19
-30
.
DOI: 10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2017.13.003
[1] SCHILLER H I. Information inequality: the deepening social crisis in America[M]. New York: Routledge, 1996.
[2] LIEVROUW L A, FARB S E. Information and equity[J]. Annual review of information science and technology, 2003,37(1): 499-540.
[3] DIJK J A G M, HACKER K. The digital divide as a complex and dynamic phenomenon [J].The information society, 2003, 19(4): 315-326.
[4] 谢俊贵.信息的富有与贫乏:当代中国信息分化问题研究[M].上海:上海三联书店,2004.
[5] 曹荣湘.解读数字鸿沟:技术殖民与社会分化[M].上海:上海三联书店,2003.
[6] YU L. Understanding information inequality: making sense of the literature of the information and digital divide[J]. Journal of librarianship and information science, 2006, 38(4):229-252.
[7] YU L. Towards a reconceptualization of the information worlds of individuals[J]. Journal of librarianship and information science, 2012, 44(1):3-18.
[8] 于良芝."个人信息世界":一个信息不平等概念的发现及阐释[J].中国图书馆学报,2013,39(1):1-9.
[9] 闫慧.中国数字化社会阶层研究[M].北京:国家图书馆出版社,2013.
[10] SWEETLAND J H. Information poverty [J]. Database magazine, 1993, 16(4):8-10.
[11] STURGESS P. The political economy of information [J]. International information and library review, 1998, 30(3): 185-201.
[12] GOULDING A. Information poverty or overload? [J]. Journal of librarianship and information science, 2001, 33(3): 109-111.
[13] HSIEH P A, RAI A, et al. Understanding digital inequality: comparing continued use behavioral models of the socio-economically advantaged and disadvantaged [J]. MIS quarterly, 2008, 32(1): 97-126.
[14] HARGITTAI E, HINNANT A. Digital inequality: difference in young adults' use of the Internet [J]. Communication research, 2008, 35(5): 602-621.
[15] WILSON R, WALLIN J S, REISER C. Social stratification and the digital divide [J]. Social science computer review, 2003, 21 (2):133-153.
[16] O'HARAK, STEVENS D. Inequality.com: power, poverty and digital divide [M]. Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2006.
[17] ATTEWELL P. The first and second digital divides [J].Sociology of education, 2001, 74(3):252-259.
[18] 赖茂生.信息化与数字鸿沟[J].现代信息技术,2000(12):84-86.
[19] 韦路,张明新.第三道数字鸿沟:互联网上的知识沟[J].新闻与传播研究,2006(4):43-53.
[20] NORRIS P. Digital divide? civic engagement, information poverty & the Internet worldwide [M]. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
[21] WARSCHAUER M. Technology and social inclusion: rethinking the digital divide [M]. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press,2003.
[22] WESSELS B. The reproduction and reconfiguration of inequality: differentiation and class, status and power in the dynamics of digital divides [M]// RAGNEDDA M, MUSCHERT G W. The digital divide: the Internet and social inequality in international perspective. New York: Routledge, 2013.
[23] CHATMAN E A. Information, mass media use and the working poor [J]. Library & information science research, 1985(7): 97-113.
[24] CHATMAN E A. The information world of low-skilled workers [J]. Library & information science research, 1987(9):265-283.
[25] CHATMAN E A. The information world of retired women [M]. Westport,CT: Greenwood Press, 1992.
[26] CHATMAN E A, PENDLETON V E M. Knowledge gaps, information-seeking and the poor [J]. Reference librarian, 1995(49/50):135-145.
[27] CHATMAN E A. Framing social life in theory and research [J]. New review of information behaviour research, 2000(1):3-17.
[28] 刘亚.教育对青少年信息贫困的影响研究[D].天津:南开大学,2012.
[29] 于良芝,刘亚.结构与主体能动性:信息不平等研究的理论分野及整体性研究的必要[J].中国图书馆学报,2010, 36(1):4-19.
[30] GIGLER B S. Informational capabilities: the missing link for the impact of ICT on development[R]. Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2011.
[31] KLEINE D. Technologies of choice? ICT, development, and the capabilities approach [M]. Cambridge, London: The MIT Press, 2013.
[32] KUTTAN A, PETERS L. From digital divide to digital opportunity [M]. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2003.
[33] MAXWELL J A. Qualitative research design [M]. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1996.
[34] 樊振佳.可行能力视角下的信息不平等[J].图书馆建设,2014(9):11-16.
[35] MURRAY J. Applying Big 6 skills and information literacy standards to internet research [J]. The book report, 2000(11/12):33-35.
[36] DOYLE C S. Outcome measures for information literacy within the national education goals of 1990. Final report to the national forum on information literacy: summary of findings[EB/OL].[2016-09-11].http://www.education.tas.gov.au/0278/issue/026/christina.html.
[37] BRUCE C S. The relational approach: a new model for information literacy[J].The new review of information and library research, 1997 (3):1-22.
[38] ALA & AECT. The information literacy standards for student learning[EB/OL].[2016-10-01].http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/libdev/informationliteracystandards.html.
[39] SCONUL. Information skills in higher education: a SCONUL position paper[EB/OL].[2016-10-03].http://www.sconul.ac.uk/activities/inf_lit/papers/Seven_pillars.html.
[40] 赵静,王玉平.西部农村群体信息能力培育及区域信息共享机制研究[M].北京:科学出版社,2010.
[41] SEN A. Capability and well-being [M]//Nussbaum M, Sen A. The quality of life. Oxford: Clarendon Press,1993.
[42] ROBEYNS I. The capability approach: a theoretical survey [J]. Journal of human development, 2005, 6(1): 93-114.
[43] MJΦSET L. Theory: conceptions in the social sciences [M]//ROSENTHAL D M. International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Science, 2001.
[44] STILLMAN L, DENSION T. The capability approach community informatics [J]. The information society, 2014, 30(3): 200-211.
[45] 王瑛琦.可行能力贫困:阅读困难群体的实质性特征[J].图书情报工作,2016,60(10):1-6.
[46] SHERA J. Introduction to library science: basic elements of library service [M]. Littleton, Colo: Libraries Unlimited, 1976.
[47] RANGANATHAN S. The five laws of library science [M]. Banglore: Ess Ess Publications, 2006.
[48] 靖继鹏,马费成,张向先.情报科学理论[M].北京:科学出版社,2009.
[49] 王知津,樊振佳.信息火用探讨:情报概念的一个新的认识视角[J].情报理论与实践,2007(4):433-437,450.
