Explores the implications of articulating the bridges that are built, usually implicitly, between metatheory and method, and between these and their ultimate interests, the doing of research; the purpose is to articulate the uses of methodology. Suggests that there is lacking a vocabulary for talking about methodology which attends to the…

Examines traditional categories of information/communication system users. Argues that these categories lead to a view of communication systems that make "haves" and "have-nots" inevitable. Describes several alternative communication-based user categories that view users as actors within the information system. (SR)

This study was conducted to determine how library users in California say library use helps them. While most library effectiveness studies infer effectiveness by looking at the movement of materials or reports of user satisfaction, this study proceeds from the assumption that libraries need to know how library use helps in user terms. The study…

This study constitutes the second phase of a three-phase project whose purpose is to develop strategies for dealing with the information needs of urban residents. The focus is on how the information practitioner can effectively deal with individual citizens. From Phase I (IR 003 729), an approach, called the client-in-situation approach, was…

Three research projects studied in detail the mass media behaviors of poor children, adolescents, and adults. These studies focused on a complete range of media behaviors--media use, availability, content preferences, functions, and attitudes. They considered a comprehensive set of media including radio, television, newspapers, magazines,…