Citation

Dunne JE. Libr. Inf. Sci. Res. 2002; 24(4): 343-355.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0740-8188(02)00132-9

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although little research has specifically focused on the information behavior of battered women, many studies designed with other intentions reveal useful insights into the role of information in battered women's lives. Studying battered women's information behavior offers insights that can serve as a basis for developing strategies to meet their information needs. This article develops an expanded version of the person-in-situation model: a "person-in-progressive-situations" model. The proposed model creates a picture of the changes in information needs, seeking, and use at various stages in the progression of abuse. The expanded model also considers three categories of barriers that constrain the battered woman's information-seeking alternatives: personal, responsive, and situational. The model reveals many implications for librarians and other information providers seeking to address the information needs of battered women and implications for further research.