Exploration of the knowledge of and motivation for learning preservation practices for personal digital information

This research investigated preservation practices related to personal digital information. It sought to answer three main research questions: 1. What kinds of personal digital information do public library users collect and why? 2. What are the cognitive, affective, and psycho-social influences that contribute to the preservation of personal digital information? 3. How can individuals improve their digital preservation practices and what would motivate them to make improvements to these practices?Twenty-six participants were recruited from public library friends groups from a large metropolitan region on the east coast of the United States. Three areas within the study of information behavior informed the research design: everyday life information seeking (ELIS); information horizons and information source horizons; and cognitive and affective issues in information behavior. Data analysis entailed the use of the constant comparison method and descriptive statistics.Data analysis led to the creation of a theoretical model of personal digital preservation practices. The model shows the effects of social, cognitive, and affective conditions on personal preservation decisions, as well as the effects of memory loss and technological advances over time, combined with information escalation over time. Because the preservation of personal digital information is the result of personal, social, and technological interactions, the integration of these factors in the study of digital preservation practices is necessary for a viable solution to the digital preservation problem. The dissertation concludes with a discussion of implications for future research.Ph.D., Information Studies -- Drexel University, 200