GROWTH OF THEORIES ON INFORMATION-SEEKING - AN ANALYSIS OF GROWTH OF A THEORETICAL RESEARCH-PROGRAM ON THE RELATION BETWEEN TASK COMPLEXITYAND INFORMATION-SEEKING

The aim of this article is to analyse the growth of a theoretical rese arch program in the field of information needs and seeking studies. Th e program consists of a set of interrelated studies on the effects of task complexity on information source use. The growth is assessed by r econstructing the logical structure of the theories within the program and by comparing those reconstructions in terms of their conceptual a nd factual similarity. The growth pattern is then analysed by using Wa gner's and Berger's model of theory growth from sociology. The analysi s reveals the growth pattern of the program. The results indicate that the chosen program is progressive in terms of empirical support and p recision of the theories, and that the growth pattern is elaborative. Moreover, based on the analysis consequences for further studies are p resented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.