Information as compost: decentring humans in information practices research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47989/ir31ISIC65289Keywords:
information practices, compost, environments, sound, mobilityAbstract
Introduction. Information practices research remains largely focused on human activities and interactions, separate from broader environments. Although some approaches emphasise contextual, sociotechnical aspects, the agencies and affordances of other nonhuman beings, objects, and/or environments remain underexplored.
Analysis. Seeking different approaches in order to attend to the entirety and complexities of environments and relationships involved in information practices, two studies where such needs arose are presented as examples: explorations of the information practices of environmental sound recordists and of vehicle residents.
Results. Through engaging with theoretical approaches from other disciplines, the study examples highlight the importance of recognising information and related practices as always in states of decay and renewal, reliant on and in relation with all components of a particular environment.
Conclusion. Preliminary theoretical implications focus on the importance of considering relationships with nonhuman elements and actors alongside sociotechnical perspectives through the concept of information composting. Practical implications ask researchers to further attend to implicated environments and constituent actors/elements when seeking holistic and situated understandings of interactions with information.
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