Open AccessComing-Out: Gay Males' Information Seeking
Author(s) -
Judah S. Hamer
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
school libraries worldwide
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2816-3788
pISSN - 1023-9391
DOI - 10.29173/slw7121
Subject(s) - information seeking , information seeking behavior , information needs , psychology , strict constructionism , identity (music) , perspective (graphical) , social psychology , computer science , political science , physics , artificial intelligence , world wide web , library science , acoustics , law
This inquiry, undertaken in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States examines information-seeking of young gay males about coming-out, taking a social constructionist perspective on gay identity. The investigation uses data collected from critical incident technique interviews in which these young men related their information needs, information-seeking activities, and the conditions of these activities. Findings show that they typically encountered three types of information needs; these are linked to self-labeling, consequences for self-identifying as gay, and forming an understanding of a gay identity. Participants' information-seeking typically involved interacting with young gay adults through online forums. However, they also experienced a period when they did not pursue their information needs about coming-out. Conditions most strongly characterizing information-seeking were the experience of fear and the concealment of information-seeking activities. These findings are considered in association with Chatman's (1996) Theory of Information Poverty. The discussion of the findings also proposes directions for future research and provision of information.