Visiting Assistant Professor Melissa Ocepek has received the 2017 Elfreda A. Chatman Research Award for her research proposal, "An Exploration of Everyday Information Behavior." The award is presented by the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Special Interest Group (SIG), Information Needs Seeking and Use (USE).
The award recognizes the best research proposal that falls within the scope of information behavior. Ocepek's proposal seeks to observe a small group of individuals over one week to see how they interact with information across contexts.
"This work aligns with my previous projects that have focused on the everyday, specifically Henri Lefebvre's definition of the everyday as 'the totality of life,'" Ocepek explained. "Information behaviors occur in all facets of life—in the workplace, home, grocery store, gym, or time spent with friends."
Ocepek's research and teaching interests include everyday information behavior, cultural theory, critical theory, food studies, and research methods. She holds a BA in sociology and political science from Pepperdine University and a PhD in information science from the University of Texas at Austin.
She will receive the award at the SIG USE Symposium on October 28, before the ASIS&T Annual Meeting.