Empowering interviews: narrative interviews in the study of information literacy in everyday life settings

Introduction. This paper presents a way to design and conduct interviews, within a sociocultural perspective, for studying information literacy practices in everyday life. Methods. A framework was developed combining a socio-cultural perspective with a narrative interview was developed. Interviewees were invited to participate by talking and using visual tools (deck of cards of information sources, maps, and horizons of information sources). Five young women were interviewed about how they chose contraceptives and how they in the process engaged in information literacy practices. Analysis. A qualitative analysis was carried out, using transcripts of interviews, visual tools supplemented with observations, field notes and transcripts of conversations during counselling meetings before the interviews. Results. The interviews became “empowering” arenas, providing opportunities for interviewees and interviewer to reflect on and ponder over what it means to choose and use a contraceptive. The information literacy practices of evaluating information sources about contraceptives became a part of a story to tell about what it means to be a Page 1 of 16 Empowering interviews: narrative interviews in the study of information literacy in every... 11/12/2013 http://informationr.net/ir/18-3/colis/paperC10.html young woman, expressing oneself as leading a sexually active life. Conclusion. The proposed narrative interview design, in which interviewees are invited to take active part in the interview, proves itself fruitful within a sociocultural perspective.