The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Green Search: Studying online environmental information. A research design.

På svenska

Author

  • Jutta Haider

Editor

  • Maxi Kindling
  • Elke Greifeneder

Summary, in English

This poster presents the design of a research project in its initial stages. The project Green Search investigates shaping of environmental information, including information on problems and proposed solutions, through their representation in search engine results, in social media tools, and in mobile applications dedicated to environmentally friendly living and consumption and how this is experienced by people using these tools. The project is situated in a socio-technical framework, which sees technology and society as mutually dependent and co-constructed. The following four research questions, organized in two interlinked parts, guide the study: Part I: Configurations - How are specific environmental issues with bearing on everyday life practices configured through web search and recommendation services and in mobile applications facilitating environmentally friendly living? In which ways do users judge mediated personal recommendations (through social media), search engine results and information from dedicated mobile applications for environmentally friendly living? Part II: Trust - How is trust attributed to the information retrieved/received on environmental issues with bearing on everyday life practices, specifically considering how different sources are seen to relate to each other? Which interests, organizations or link relations are perceived as trustworthy and how is this motivated? This is investigated in relation to two thematic areas: food and the home. The presented project uses a mixed method approach, with qualitative methods (focus group interviews) being supplemented with quantitative elements (web analyses).

Department/s

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Pages

945-949

Publication/Series

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Document type

Conference paper

Publisher

iSchools

Topic

  • Cultural Studies
  • Information Studies

Keywords

  • Search engines
  • information practices
  • socio-technical
  • mixed method
  • environmental information
  • information studies

Conference name

iConference, 2014

Conference date

2014-03-04 - 2014-03-07

Conference place

Berlin, Germany

Status

Published

Project

  • Knowledge in a Digital World: Trust, Credibility and Relevance on the Web
  • Green Search

Research group

  • Information Studies
  • Information Practices: Communication, Culture and Society

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 978-0-9884900-1-7