Investigating the information gaps in refugee integration

Refugee integration processes and systems are complex for refugees. They find them difficult to navigate and thus often end up disadvantaged. This paper presents the first set of findings from an ongoing information behavior research study into refugee integration. The study explores the situational experiences of refugees and asylum seekers engaging with the integration processes and systems through individual semi-structured interviews. Dervin’s sense-making methodology was used to elicit the information gaps. The findings reveals refused asylum situation during integration and highlight information needs embedded in processes and systems of refugee integration. The results have implications for reducing the complexity of service provision during refugee integration. In addition, the approach expands previous studies and highlights the depth a situational investigation can bring to information behaviour studies

The Information Mapping Board Game: a Collaborative Investigation of Asylum Seekers and Refugees’ Information Practices in England, UK

Introduction. This paper discusses the use of an information mapping board game for collaboratively identifying information practices of a small group of asylum seekers and refugees in the North East of England, UK. Method. Drawing on participatory visual methods, an original information mapping board game was designed. Analysis. Qualitative results are discussed and analysed using grounded theory, constant comparative analysis, and situational mapping. Results. The use of an information mapping board game allows participants going through the asylum process to become actively involved in mapping and sharing their own information practices, sources and barriers within a playful collaborative environment. It enables participants to become aware of their acquired information literacy by sharing knowledge, and to adapt the game to reflect their needs and knowledge. Conclusion. This study indicates that participatory techniques such as the information mapping board game have the potential to engage hard to reach populations in the research process, to foster their agency, confidence, and capacities, and to inform actions at a local level

Situational information behaviour : exploring the complexity of refugee integration

This paper discusses how the knowledge gained from information studies creates the possibility of dealing with the challenges of refugee integration. We demonstrate that a situation-focused approach creates a systemic understanding of information needs that is useful not only for the individual but also for the design of institutional responses to forced migration. We analysed findings from our research into refugee integration using the sense-making situation-gap approach and found micro-and macro-situations affecting information behaviour and use. The combined analysis of individual and contextual factors highlighted the characteristics of situations for actors, actions, interactions and events of context. We show that overarching situations faced by refugees determine individual information gap moments, and we discuss situational information behaviour in light of these findings. The findings show how situational approach expands understanding in information studies and emphasises the depth information behaviour adds to the social and behavioural sciences

Transitions Theory and liminality in information behaviour research : applying new theories to examine the transition to early career academic

Purpose: Transitions – as a focus of study – have been missing from information behaviour research. The purpose of this paper is to explore the topic of transitions – their characteristics and influences, the related concept of liminality and Transitions Theory – and what it can contribute to the field of information behaviour. This exploration includes the application of liminality and Transitions Theory to an empirical study of participants making the transition from doctoral student to early career academic. Design/methodology/approach: In addition to an extended literature review, this paper reports on a qualitative study that used constructivist grounded theory methodology for data collection and analysis. Early career academics were followed for a five- to seven-month period and data were collected using interviews and “check-ins”. Transitions Theory and liminality were used to guide the analysis. Findings: Three important findings were highlighted: the complicating effects of being in a liminal space on information behaviour; the changing information needs of those undergoing a transition; and the importance of comparison as a way of using information to understand new situations. A revised model of Transitions Theory (Meleis et al., 2000) is also proposed, to incorporate information behaviour. Originality/value: This paper demonstrates that by examining information behaviour over longer periods of time and by making transitions a focus of research, new understandings and insight can be gained into what information individual needs, how they find, share and use that information. This research demonstrates that information behaviour research adds important elements to the study of transitions and, conversely, that transitions (and Transitions Theory) add important elements to the study of information behaviour

The Effect of Nationalism on Refugee Integration in Texas Metropolitan Areas from 2008-2018: An Integrative Literature Review

Refugee integration is a relevant issue for policymakers and non-governmental organizations, however minimal research has explored modern refugee integration in the United States. An exploratory study identified relevant literature, which was reviewed critically and synthesized to generate new ideas and provide direction for further research. Emerging attitudes of nationalism demonstrated through political rhetoric and news media were found to have minimal influence on refugees’ integration processes into Texas metropolitan areas. Most refugees in Texas are achieving the desired outcome (i.e., self-sufficiency) of the United States Refugee Admissions Program. Inconclusive evidence exists to determine if refugees are successful in all integration phases when entering Texas host communities. The phenomena under study, refugees’ successful integration into Texas host communities, remains an inconclusive outcome. Future studies should examine host communities' perspectives to explore the effects of nationalism on refugees’ integration processes. A need exists for consensus building and refinement on the definition of refugee integration, prioritizing the importance of integration as a two-way process

The information needs matrix : a navigational guide for refugee integration

This paper presents an information needs matrix as a navigation guide for refugees and host societies to support integration. It is an outcome from an information behaviour investigation into refugee integration, conducted through interviews with asylum seekers and refugees. A sense-making methodology was used as a framework to examine the experiences of refugees, focusing on the situations and information gaps encountered during integration. The study identified information needs on housing, financial, legal and social support, mobility, health, education, employment and state benefits. A unique feature of the proposed matrix is the order dependency of the uncovered needs by our investigation. The findings were validated with observation data collected while undertaking a role at the Scottish Refugee Council. The matrix can be used to guide society’s provisions for integration, assess levels of individual integration and inform the design of information support for refugees

Making meaning : a focus for information interactions research

In this perspectives paper, I discuss meaning-making as an information seeking and interaction enterprise. I present meaning-making as a vital human reaction to significant life changes and present indicative evidence of how people go about gathering information for making meaning within their lives. I discuss some of the various forms of information that can be used for meaning-making, why it is an information seeking task that is different to those we are used to in information seeking research, and motivate meaning-making as a new focus for information seeking and information interactions research

Rechercheverhalten von Geflüchteten

Im Jahr 2015 kamen über eine Million Geflüchtete nach Deutschland. Eine wichtige Rolle der Integration von Geflüchteten spielt die Informationsversorgung. Um die Schutzsuchenden besser bei der Informationssuche unterstützen zu können, wurde in dieser Studie das Informationsverhalten von sieben Geflüchteten bei der Internetsuche analysiert. Dabei sollte herausgefunden werden, ob die Probanden eine Suchstrategie verfolgen und wenn ja, dann welche. Weiterhin sollte beobachtet werden, welche Suchanfragen gestellt wurden und welche Probleme dabei auftraten. Grundlage der Studie waren sieben Screen-Videoaufnahmen der Suche im Internet während der Bearbeitung von neun Aufgaben. Die Daten stammen aus der Studie von Stiller & Trkulja (2018). Bei der Untersuchung wurde ein Mixed-Method-Ansatz angewendet, wobei die qualitative Auswertung auch einen Ansatz der Grounded Theory Method einbezog. Eine allgemeine Suchstrategie konnte nicht beobachtet werden. Die Probanden wählten Informationsquellen wie die Google-Suchmaschine oder eine Suchmaschine auf bestimmten Webseiten aus, auf denen sie ihren Wissensbedarf in Form einer Suchanfrage formulierten. Dies taten sie oft, indem sie auf Reaktionen der Suchmaschine reagierten oder Terme aus anderen Quellen kopierten. Anschließend evaluierten sie die Ergebnismenge und passten ihre Suchanfrage entsprechend an. Dabei wurden sehr viele neue Anfragen gestellt. Diese wurden jedoch auch oft verändert. Probleme, die hauptsächlich beobachtet wurden, waren Rechtschreib-, Verständnis- und Sprachprobleme. Die Ergebnisse der Studie können angewendet werden, um weitere Forschung anzustoßen und die Geflüchteten besser in ihrer Suche zu unterstützen

Exploring the Information Experience of the Immigrant Toward Public Libraries in New York City

This qualitative exploratory study investigated the experiences, or the lack, of underemployed immigrants with limited job skills, limited income, and limited English speaking skills with public library services as they face many stages of cultural and informational adaptation in the United States. Their information needs are at first primarily for housing, employment, education and social services. In general, they came to the US looking for opportunities, and to be successful. Those achievement means finding good jobs, educations, skills, and greater financial security. Having greater options starts by getting access to information that leads to those objectives. Public libraries have provided many opportunities to millions of people in the US and, by tapping into individual need for information, library services have benefited communities across the country. US public libraries emphasized services to immigrants as an essential segment of their activities. This was accomplished by offering and providing immigrants with relevant need-based assistance, such as improving their job searching skills and learning opportunities. Services to newcomers are crucial aspects of most public libraries with significant immigrant populations. While the literature on immigrants in libraries was useful in guiding this research, the focus of those bodies of work did not necessarily address the information needs of under-employed, limited English speaking immigrants who may have or may not have used public libraries. Following two separate pilot studies, I was able to collect survey data for 30 immigrant participants. I then reached out to public librarians who serve immigrants and found they were very accessible online during the pandemic. I recruited 30 public librarians in the New York City area who were asked to take part in questionnaire, interview, and focus group data collection to provide librarian perspectives on meeting the needs of recent immigrants. The data from the immigrant surveys, the librarians’ surveys, interviews, and the focus group was analyzed and examined using principles of open coding. I identified 3 categories of desired types of library services, 3 categories of roles that public librarians play in engaging immigrants in their daily lives to meet their information needs, and 3 categories of challenging barriers public librarians face in providing services to underemployed immigrants. The research ends with recommendations for information professionals for improving the service provision models between immigrants and librarians