Exploring the Theory of Information Worlds: A Content Analysis of Its Applications and Developments

This study explores the applications and developments of the theory of information worlds (TIW), developed by Burnett and Jaeger (2008), Jaeger and Burnett (2010), in peer-reviewed research published between 2008 and 2023. Building on the previous systematic review by Park et al. (2022), a qualitative content analysis was conducted on 27 articles that employed TIW at substantial theoretical levels, including theory application, theory conversation, and theory generation. The findings reveal that TIW serves as a robust and scalable theoretical framework, applied across diverse contexts and methodological approaches, often integrated with qualitative and mixed methods. The core concepts of normative information behavior and information value were most frequently employed and concepts such as social types were less frequently applied, indicating potential areas for further theoretical refinement. TIW has also informed new theoretical contributions, including a framework of information access in local communities and a theory of local information landscapes, and has been used in conjunction with complementary theories across disciplines. While criticisms regarding its limited treatment of individual agency and affective dimensions have been raised, recent theoretical developments incorporating cognitive and signification domains into the framework have sought to address these limitations. This study contributes to understanding the role and evolution of LIS theory and highlights the potential of TIW for future theoretical advancement and interdisciplinary application.