The role of experience in the information search process of an early career information worker: Perceptions of uncertainty, complexity, construction,and sources

Information workers center on seeking, gathering, and interpreting informat ion in order to provide value-added information as a basis for making decis ions and judgments critical to the function of an enterprise. This longitud inal case study investigates changes in perceptions of the information sear ch process of an early career information worker as he becomes more experie nced and proficient at his work. Building on Kuhlthau's earlier research, c omparisons of the user's perceptions of uncertainty, complexity, constructi on, and sources in information tasks were made over a B-year period, This i s a case study, but it provides insight into issues raised in prior quantit ative studies of securities analysts.