A sociometric analysis of information-seeking behavior, information sources, and information networks in boards, committees and commissions in a small rural Iowa community

The sources ultimately used by information-seeking individuals may be understood by examining influences present in the information network in which these persons are embedded. That understanding is expanded when the invisible links in this system are studied, beyond the first-choices of the information-seeker. Roger's and Kincaid's Network Analysis techniques allow the study of these links using sociometric diagrams. The viability of this application is tested by charting the choices made by individuals elicited from a population of randomly selected boards, committees and commissions in Emmetsburg, Iowa. In this study, these diagrams reveal the network "roles" played by these participants. Identifying Opinion Leaders, Isolates and Liaisons reveals the invisible information network which leads from individual to individual to ultimate information "stores". Previous research studies in Library Science chronicle the increasing jeopardy faced by libraries in our society. Previous research in Communication Studies found that average citizens get information from other people when seeking answers to questions that will enlighten them and aid in their decision-making. The current study questions both of these positions by revealing the linkage from people back to the print-on-paper or electronic "stores" of literature collected in public, personal, professional, governmental, medical and law "libraries". Those seeking information are generally not aware that the information desired ultimately comes from collected bodies of literature through the "information chain" of individuals. A present danger is that these sources may be bypassed in budgetary considerations because they are not perceived as important and essential to the provisions of accurate useful information for public policy decision-making.