“Like Putting Broccoli in a Quiche”: Instructors Talk about Incorporating Theory into Reference Courses

Abstract

The practice of reference and information service (RIS) should be based on an understanding of how users seek information to fill information needs and of what they do with that information once they have found it. RIS professional education, therefore, should provide students with a strong grounding in information behavior. This study explores if and how information behavior theories and models are integrated into basic RIS courses in North American Master’s programs, building on the results of a previous syllabus study. Interviews with sixteen instructors, including full-time and adjunct faculty, revealed a range of opinions about the importance of information behavior theories and models in RIS coursework, as well as student receptivity to theories and models. The insights of the instructors and the rich detail provided by the interview method help to contextualize previous studies about information behavior content in RIS professional education.