The information needs matrix: a navigational guide for refugee integration

Olubukola Oduntan, Ian Ruthven

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)
33 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper presents an information needs matrix as a navigation guide for refugees and host societies to support integration. It is an outcome from an information behaviour investigation into refugee integration, conducted through interviews with asylum seekers and refugees. A sense-making methodology was used as a framework to examine the experiences of refugees, focusing on the situations and information gaps encountered during integration. The study identified information needs on housing, financial, legal and social support, mobility, health, education, employment and state benefits. A unique feature of the proposed matrix is the order dependency of the uncovered needs by our investigation. The findings were validated with observation data collected while undertaking a role at the Scottish Refugee Council. The matrix can be used to guide society’s provisions for integration, assess levels of individual integration and inform the design of information support for refugees.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)791-808
Number of pages18
JournalInformation Processing and Management
Volume56
Issue number3
Early online date25 Jan 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 May 2019

Keywords

  • information needs
  • refugee integration
  • information behaviour
  • sense making
  • asylum seeker
  • refused asylum seeker
  • refugees

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