Information behaviour

09765018: Siobhan McGuinness: Analysing the Information Seeking Behaviours of Football Fans

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Within Information behaviour there is a continuous dialogue with other voices that share our

theories and frameworks. These voices aid our discipline in various depth and scope. This

open space allows focus on interests that can be sometimes overlooked.

Within the sports discipline many publications have examined behaviours of football

supporters in areas of hooliganism and alcohol. The following analysis diverts away from

this, negative aspect of football supporters.

Analysis will be viewed with a twofold approach, and shall form two strands (A) how

supporters seek information prior to a specific game (B) how they use this information during

the specific game along with the added information from the actual game. In addition other

behaviours shall be analysed, these behaviours are closely linked to the context the supporter

is in. Within this analysis the setting is a bar, three different football matches have been

chosen, along with three different settings, which results in 3 different groups being analysed.

To clarify 6 different football teams will be within these 3 different groups, however analysis

will be given as 1 group per football match, and a comparison shall be made between the

groups, level of intensity and location. This comparison will give the analysis a richer and

deeper meaning in interpreting the information. This analysis shall be used in conjunction

with the various theories and frameworks within information behaviour. The two main

theories shall be (A) T.D. Wilson’s “Evolution in Information Behaviour Modelling” (B)

David Ellis’s Model of Information Seeking Behaviour. Within this, an addition of

Savolainen (2012) shall be used to highlight the importance of context. These theories form a

thread that runs through the activities supporters take part in while seeking information about

various elements of sport. These elements include previous game performance, player’s

injuries, managerial decisions, relevance of game, i.e. Quarter final/Semi-final etc. Taking the


2 above approaches and mapping them with these three theories provides the analysis to form a

model which will illustrate the path a football supporter takes when seeking information

about a specific topic. Observations will act as a guide in seeking these stages of information

behaviour and add as ‘tags’ to the theories which in turn will assist Information behaviour in

creating a better model in understanding the needs of football supporters.

A discussion of how I approached this observation will give the report an in depth glance as

to the effectiveness of the observations, and the observations themselves shall gleam

interesting points which will act as tags to the theories and models within. The framework for

this is Wilson’s revised general model of information seeking behaviour. This framework

shall aim to seek the outcomes of the information that is gained along with a supporter’s

decisions when seeking information.

In addition to keep the report from losing focus I shall follow stages and steps that were

carried out continuously through each research strategy and observation, altogether mapping

these to the frameworks that have been outlined. A continuous cycle will form throughout

the report, documenting information seeking behaviour through the three observations using

the three frameworks. With this the report shall have a consistency and continuity with the

final conclusion bringing together various loose strands to compile a coherent report. A

further recommendation shall be listed for additional research. Weakness within this current

report will be addressed and possible solutions shall be acknowledged.

Findings within the 3 games have been different however this has been pre arranged in order

to view different behaviours within football fans. Behaviour has shown similar traits, Anger

has illustrated swear words. Happiness has illustrated clapping and seeking out other

supporters to enter into a congratulation response. Frustration has illustrated head in hands

and encouragement towards team and certain players.


3 INTRODUCTION

The topic of football supporters has many branches to focus within. How they seek

information and use that information through watching football matches is the main topic

within this report. Many elements are at play here: (A) the continuation of a football season,

(B) the timeline of this season, richer results may be gained towards the end of the season (C)

the setting.

Within these elements is how and where the supporters source their information and how they

use it. The information gained within the three settings highlighted how information seeking

behaviour began before the game started. This behaviour is illustrated in many ways, and

shall be documented within observations. The decision to look at this group is how the

context plays a vital role, the intensity of the situation along with the knowledge each person

has going into the setting and how that information can be used in an effective way, i.e. the

supporters club is winning the match or how the information can be used in an ineffective

way, i.e. the supporters club is losing the match.

These observations taken alongside the theories of Wilson and Ellis and embedding

Savolainen as a core, it will help map the challenges football supporters face in seeking

information. In addition these results will help theorists better understand how football fans

relate to seeking different information channels and the behaviour situated within these

choices.

APPROACH TO OBSERVATIONS

The foundation for this research stemmed from a personal interest in the activities of male

friends and family towards their information strategies on various sports. The realisation that

there was a thread between sporting fans and information seeking behaviour became relevant

as I begun to watch various friends act towards sporting events.


4 Observing friends on a daily basis on how they interacted with sport and information began

to come together as I noticed the level of information I was gaining about sport was rising

and this was through no avenue of my own, only from what information they were giving me.

It also began to emerge that if a particular sporting event was approaching, the level of

sporting information gathered pace around me. For instance the radio station “Newstalk” has

a programme called “off the ball” this would have been occasionally turned on, however as

various games grew in intensity the programme was now on daily. In addition, Sky Sports

News was intermittently; however as the intensity surrounding a specific match increased so

did the timeframe of the sports channels.

The need to understand the many elements surrounding the upcoming match was crucial at all

times. Information that was secure included the position where the team were in within the

competition table. For example, on one occasion all teams were situated on equal points,

however if this particular team would win it would have increased the points by 3 which in

turn would of made the team top of the table. These patterns began to occur on a daily basis,

as I began to follow these patterns I decided to see how this information reflects the setting in

which a football match is watched. Here my first decision was to personally go to football

matches, UCD often have many matches played on campus. However after further analyses

of how I would observe in an unobtrusive way it began to be problematic. The next decision,

I wanted to analyse the differences between the different levels of games and different

supporters. Here I analysed the upcoming football games and decided to choose 3 different

groups of supporters, and 3 different levels of intensity towards the games. In addition to

these I chose 3 different locations, all where in bars, however I mixed up the type of bar in

order to match 1) the group of people who would be watching the football match 2) The

intensity of the football match which would result in a busier bar.


5 Research prior to each game included the following; (a) analysing the Football matches that

were scheduled for the coming week, (b) focusing on players that have been picked, or not

for the squad, (c) Score from previous games. For example, (a) within the first observation

my choice to observe Real Madrid and Manchester United supporters stemmed from it being

a Champion’s league Round 16, which means the last 16 teams are competing. The team that

wins this match moves into the Quarter finals. (b) Rooney was on the bench, Ronaldo was

starting for Real Madrid, so in the public’s perception Real Madrid had the stronger team.

(c) Score from 1st leg: 1:1, this scenario is where Man Utd needed to score an away goal in

the second leg to win and not allowing Real Madrid to score at all because if the aggregate

score were level at 2:2 for example it would go to penalties to decide the winner. Otherwise

the team with the most away goals scored. In this case a draw on aggregate would be

sufficient to advance to the quarter finals.

As this research proved extremely successful, the next stage was to see how information

seeking behaviour would differ with a second group. Here I sought to generate similar

outcomes yet slight variances in behaviours.

The results from each observation were quite interesting and matched my ideas in how I

developed the research around choosing football matches, and settings. Each analysis shall be

documented further, and conclusions shall be given with evidence from chosen theoretical

frameworks.

DESCRIPTION OF GROUP OBSERVED

The description of Football Fans is the same yet very different depending on team being

played. The following documents the similarities and differences found within each group.

Groups observed are as follows:


6 1

st Match: Manchester United versus Real Madrid. This is particularly interesting as there are

Irish people supporting an English football team, whereby the supporters for Real Madrid are

from Spain and living in Ireland.

2nd

Match: Ireland versus Austria. Here the group in the setting all support Ireland as the

majority are from Ireland and relate to the ethnicity and cultural aspect.

3rd

Match: Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, here the groups watching the game have no

relation, attachment or bond towards either team. If the relation, attachment or bond is to be

analysed here it is purely football related and how the skill of football between each

player/team.

Similarities:

‘Gender’: the majority of supporters in each context where men.

‘Relationship’ in which the supporter had to the football club, this relationship is similar to an

attachment the footballers have towards “their” club.

‘Bond’ this is similar throughout the 3 games where groups of supporters will sit together,

although dispersed throughout the pub, however these will be large groups.

Bond links to ‘Interaction’ whereby each time the particular football team scores or has a

chance to score, the singular groups will celebrate first and then seek other groups to

celebrate with.

Differences:

A slight cultural distinction can be shown between the 1st and 2

nd observation and 2

nd and 3

rd

observation. Whereby supporters in the 2nd

observation were all the same, the reason people

were supporting the specific team can be noted as everyone was Irish and supporting the Irish

football team. The difference in the 1st observation there was a clear distinction between


7 supporter and team, in the 3

rd observation it was very unclear between supporter and team as

the interest towards the football match was minimal.

DESCRIPTION OF THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS

The first theoretical framework is Wilson’s 1995 revised model of Information Seeking

Behaviour. Wilson’s earlier models have a contemporary strand through them as they were

designed in a time when technical development had not reached the level we see today. A

threefold outlook reflects the structure of this model and relates to the situation that shall be

applied within this report. First, the context the seeker is in while seeking information is

embedded. Secondly the system that employs the information along with the information

resources that are used.

In order to fully understand the diverse aspects of this group and the multiple strands of

information seeking behaviour it incorporates, context shall be a core focus. As Wilson uses

this within his framework it is already embedded within the continuous description.

Savolainen (2012) shall strengthen this description in providing a substantial definition of

context within the group of football fans and map the various analysis of how important

context is within information seeking behaviour.

Embedded into Wilson, is Ellis’s (1989) “behavioural characteristics”, here the pattern opens

to look at the other activities the information seeker is engaged in while actively searching.

Within the context that this group is in this aspect highlighted the activities that reoccur while

they are engaged in receiving information. These behavioural characteristics could be linked

to many emotional aspects that surround football fans. Here I shall attempt to highlight a

pattern. However any further depth or scope within this segment of analysis would result in a

loss of structure to the original topic.


8 Each component maps the series of events a football fans goes through, and through these

components I shall endeavour to link the many observations that has been documented and a

detailed comparison will be shown for each observation with a hypothetical reasoning using

these components to bolster my claim.

Wilson (1996)

Savolainen Ellis

The information seeking behaviour of football fans incorporates a wide circle course. To

illustrate this course Wilson’s (1995) model shall be used, mapped out by Fisher (2005, pg.

34). The stages, which include; context, the activating mechanisms, the intervening variables

and decisions processes and usage are all relevant in the process of a football fans

information seeking behaviour. The aim here is to use Wilson’s framework to keep the many

strands of a footballers seeking behaviours contained. To do this I shall embed Ellis’s

different types of activities into the next inner circle of stages.

This course starts at an even level with the same patterns emerging. These patterns that are

always there, yet built upon can be reflected in Ellis (1989) mapped out by Fisher (2005, pg.

138) here it can be see that 6 steps emerge:

1) Starting; this at the beginning of the season can be crucial in sourcing new information on

new players, financial aspects on the club, new strip including home and away jerseys. As

these elements are then cemented into the club, a starting point will also form from the

previous match, sustained injuries, and previous tactical systems employed by the manager.

2) Chaining 3) Browsing 4) Differentiating; will all happen simultaneously, as sources and

connections and areas of interest will have been built upon over the years of following this

certain team. However the intensity of checking this information will increase along with the


9 amount of information that the supporter will receive will also increase. Here the main issue

is to document over time, what pieces the supporter chooses to take and which one they

leave.

5) Monitoring 6) Extracting; these will be keeping abreast of changes constantly, this will

mainly be focused on the various sources from above and will be analysed (a) before the

match, (b) during the match and (c) after the match.

The last circle and core centre of this framework shall be Savolainen (2012) Conceptualising

information need in context. The study here recommends analysing context in a new way, as

the focus towards this concept has been overlooked in many information seeking studies.

Context within this report is crucial; Savolainen sets out six steps for the observer to

indentify. These steps allow the observer to use context as a foundation to solidify the range

of information seeking behaviours that will arise from each setting. In addition various

definitions are given to support the range of ways one can look at context. Context involves

asking; when is the best time to observe, where the best place is, to observe and how best the

observer is going to be able to document what is in the setting. The concept that suits this

report is taken as “situation of action” when defined it illustrates “dynamic environments,

within which interpretive processes unfold, become ratified, change, and solidify”

(Savolainen, 2012 pg. 6).

ANALYSIS OF OBSERVATIONS

The analysis of observations shall be broken up into each match, with date, time, location and

match noted. A detailed yet condense analysis of each match shall be documented, each

match shall give the information researched before the match, details given from the football

channel during the match, a brief half time analysis and a brief fulltime analysis.

First observation 5th

of March 2012, Kick-off: 7:45 Manchester United versus Real Madrid.


10 Location: The living Room Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin.

Pre-match research (a) Champion’s league Round 16. Winning team enters Quarter finals.

(b) Rooney was on the bench, Ronaldo was starting for Real Madrid. (c) Score from 1st leg:

1:1, this scenario is where Man Utd needed to score an away goal in the second leg to win

and not allowing Real Madrid to score at all because if the aggregate score was level at 2:2

for example it would go to penalties to decide the winner. Otherwise the team with the most

away goals scored. In this case a draw on aggregate would be sufficient to advance to the

quarter finals.

INTRODUCTION: The bar is very busy, inside 3 big screens are showing the pre-match

commentary and 4 television screens are located behind the bar. The bar has an outside

smoking area, which is notable bigger than inside the bar, this has 1 large screen, with a sign

saying largest big screen in Dublin (the screen is extremely large) which now makes sense as

to why the bar is full to capacity. It is noted is that the nationalities of the majority of the

people in the bar are not Irish. The match starts everyone begins to clap, it is now emerging

who is clearly supporting Real Madrid and Manchester United, as they shout “Come on

RM/MU”.

Match commences: random shouting is given towards the screen, with many relation to

players names, as they take possession of the ball.

Real Madrid’s first chance of shooting is missed and 70% of the people outside are showing

signs of disappointment, this is given by holding their head in their hands, and shouting “Oh

no”. Real Madrid and Man Utd player are fighting; this then manifests itself onto the crowd.

Differences shown between the two groups illustrate (a) the Spanish are very engaged with

wanting to know the situation (b) the Man Utd supporters are waiting for the referee’s

decision and then they react. Levels of energy and engagement rise, every time Ronaldo takes


11 possession of the ball a cheer will go up from the supporters. As each team attempts to score

the Manchester United supporters will clap and say nothing, whereas the Real Madrid

supporters will shout in Spanish. A Man Utd player gets booked for a foul, this enrages the

supporters who start to shout insults at the referee, they stop shouting as the replay is being

watched, and then they engage in more aggressive shouting after it has been shown. The Real

Madrid supporters clap illustrating the referee’s good choice and the Man Utd fans continue

to throw insults saying it is a bad decision.

At 21 minutes: no score, two players go to head the ball and both get hurt, the image on

screen was very forceful, and even though the majority of the group are men they all react

with “hurt”, and a recoiling gesture to administer how they feel.

2nd

Half: Real Madrid score an “own goal”. The crowd are jumping and shouting as this

unfolds on screen; the Man Utd supporters are laughing and the Real Madrid supporter are

very embarrassed. The Real Madrid supporters use a lot of swear words, both English and

Spanish, as the replay is shown they do not look at the screen. Referee decides to give a

player a red card; the crowd administer confusion, both between Real Madrid supporters and

Man Utd as to figure out what happened and why the referee has made this decision. On

screen Alex Ferguson (Man Utd manger) is clearly angry and goes after an official on the

side lines which is against football rules, as this is shown on screen it entices the Man Utd

supporters who react with clapping and shouting “Go on fergi”.

66th

minute: a goal is scored by Real Madrid each group of supporters stand and shout and

clap, and hug each other. All of the supporter turn to the screen and shout praise to the screen.

The Man Utd supporters stay still, and do not engage with each other.

68th

minute another goal is scored by Real Madrid and the atmosphere is so electric the

supporters are now running to each groups with hugs and kisses and cheering. Many are


12 standing on the tables dancing and cheering their drinks. As this is over a player is begin

changed as the new player comes on the supporters chant his name “Pepe”.

As this celebration stops the referee is giving another yellow card and the Man Utd fans yell

“referee is a wanker”, one guy starts to sing this slogan. At 72 minutes Rooney is brought on

which make all the Man Utd supporters stand and shout “Rooney” and clap. Many Man Utd

supporters get very aggressive towards the players as time is running out and they are losing.

Real Madrid goalie is injured, and the Man Utd supporters are shouting “time waster”, “Get

up”. As it is nearly full time the Man Utd fans get very frustrated and nervous they sit

forward and concentrate intently on the player’s actions.

Game Over: Real Madrid fans clap and watch the players finish and leave the pitch, as it

come to full time analysis everyone is leaving the outside area. Inside the analysis is on,

however on one is watching it.

Second Observation: 26th

March 2013 Kick-off: 7:30 Ireland versus Austria.

Pre match research: Ireland needs to win this game in order to have a confident position in

the table. These matches are to qualify for the World Cup. This game will determine how

confident they will be for future games. The decisions documented in the press by the

manager Giovanni Trapattoni to leave some players on the bench and to give older players

the opportunity to start has caused some controversy in the media. Previous match was a

draw which means Ireland need to win this to move up the table.

LOCATION: Russell’s Bar, Ranelagh, Dublin.

INTRODUCTION: 30 to 40 people are in the pub, the pub only has televisions in the back

where most of the people are seated. The focus is on the match however mainly men are

watching. There are 3 tables with 3 groups of women having food, they do not seem interest

in the match, some men are on their own yet have combined into at group at the bar all


13 waiting on the match to commence, 6 couples are also among the crowd they seem to be

ordering food yet positioned facing the screens.

Match commences: Prior to the volume being turned on as the match had not started the

majority of the people in the pub are seated in the area where the televisions are yet they are

in conversation with each other. Once the volume is changed to the background noise of the

football match people stop their conversations. Three groups of people are observed as

follows: 1. Couples will do the following: men positions themselves to get a better view and

totally disregard the previous conversation, women will look up for a few minutes and then

proceed to do 1 of 2 things: (a) find their phone (b) try and engage in the previous

conversation after 3-5mins of being interested in the television screen. 2. The women in

groups, all stop their conversations turn their attention to the television, look confused, then

intrigued as they ask the question “It is Ireland playing”, and then return to their

conversation. 3. Men in groups, stop the conversation immediately, position themselves, pick

up their drink, and watch the screen intensely.

First half: focus in conversation seems to surround an Irish player called “McClean” the

analysis towards this player is positive. However another Irish player is captured on screen

and on his Jersey is the name “Sammon”. Overhearing conversation men are making fun of

his name and the analysis towards this player is negative. Within the first half Austria score,

many of the men stand and shout “get the fucking ball”. The most interesting observation

here is that all the men in couples will seek out the men in groups to analyse the goal and any

negativity towards Ireland will be displayed. As the game moves on people return to their

own position/place. Another observation within this moment is: as the men in a couple

situation sought other men to converse with, the women all turned to engage in the

conversation as well, however before the conversation had ended they have lost interest and


14 return to either the screen or picked up their phone. A free kick is given men reply with

“yes”, a foul is made by Austria and a penalty is given. At this moment all the men look for

each other and shout “go on”. The action made here is hands being open and raised towards

the screen, some people don’t look at the penalty being taken, but clap and cheer when he

scores. The anticipation towards the player taking this penalty is noted as: in his own club he

has taken 2 penalties for them in the last 3 matches and missed. When Ireland do miss

chances a mixture of behaviour is analysed it seems disappointment mixed with hope, the

action that is observed here is “hands in head” & a fist being made at the screen.

Ireland get a brilliant chance and miss it by a hair, the crowd get very involved. The

following is observed in the crowd: men who are eating stop eating, people who have been

engaged in their phones disregard phones and look to the television. When the player misses

some people laugh, women go straight back to conversing or their phones. Men who are

really engaged in the match enter into a conversation seeking out the people they had

previously spoken to. The outcome of this is the men realise the player had no choice in and

what he did; however they clearly are shows signs of frustration.

SECOND HALF: Second half starts and people move their attention towards the screen,

they seem to realign themselves and get comfortable. Ireland misses at a free goal kick and

men look to the screen. The action observed here is they raise their hands, and shout

“oooohhh”! The Irish goalie saves a goal kick and people clap and say “well done”. An

Austria player comes on and people start talking in a worried tone, this player is a good

player for the Austria team as he plays for an English team and may hinder the performance

for Ireland. When Austria try to score people hold their hands over their mouth.

2 minutes to go people seem to get less involved, however when a foul is made by an Irish

player worry sets in, here the men seem “torn”, it seems they want to celebrate that Ireland


15 have won the game but from past games, Ireland have always slowed down and become tired

towards the end. It is the last 5 minutes that is crucial to Ireland not to lose their performance.

This background knowledge explains the behaviour administered by the group.

3 minutes extra time: Ireland is winning, the women that were only intermittently involved

are sitting forward, conversations have become really quite between the groups of girls.

Austria is moving towards the goal and is in the area to score, Ireland is in a danger zone and

it seems like people are actually scared that Austria will score or get the ball.

Austria score: people are silent, disbelief is observed on all the faces, each person looks

around to see if they have really seen this happen. As the realisation sets in the men listen

intently to what the commentators are saying. One man gets very angry and loud to which

two men ask him to be quiet. As the analysis goes to a break nobody engages in conversation

only the man that is angry, he speaks to the barman. Game Over.

Third Observation: 2nd

of April Kick-off 7:30 Barcelona versus Paris St-Germain

LOCATION: Humphrey’s pub, Ranelagh.

Pre-Match research: this match was chosen as it was in the same league as the first match

however at this point in the championship the final teams are playing each other. Two of the

strongest teams are now in the quarter finals. A major focus is towards Paris Saint Germain

as they have purchased a new player, the media is analysing how this person will improve the

team’s performance towards an already powerful team Barcelona.

INTRODUCTION: As the pub has an older clientele many of the people are sitting around

the bar, there are 2 screens behind the bar. Altogether there are max 20 people in the bar, I am

the only woman. We are sitting at the bar facing the second screen, I position myself so I can

view the majority of the group and see the television screen.


16 As the match commences everyone looks to see what players are starting for each team, and a

conversation beings around how skilful all the players are. The barman gets very involved

with this conversation and gives a lot of information surrounds certain aspects of the players

mentioned. The men return to their individual conversations, men that had newspapers in

front of them return to reading.

As the first half commences each team is playing with equal pressure as for each team this is

the 1st leg of the quarter finals, whatever happens here will put added pressure on the teams

when they meet again for the second leg. Little happens in the first half, many of the people

in the bar do not pay close attention to the screen; however when a yellow card is given in the

17th

minute a conversation begins surrounding if the referee made a right choice.

As the game continues with no interest from the group in the bar, conversation surrounds

what interests are in the newspaper. Many issues are raised that are not sport related. As the

group is older the conversation is surrounded about what government decisions were made in

the past, and how they made it through the last recession etc. As the group get involved in

this conversation a goal is scored in the 37th

minute for Barcelona by Lionel Messi, this turns

the conversation back to the screen. Here an increased interest surrounds the skill of the

footballer, and the skill of the goal which he has made. The group start to laugh as the only

woman in the pub starts to cheer the goal, no one else is cheering or clapping they are simply

conversing about the skill that is being played in the game.

As the second half starts interest in the woman in the bar restarts with question being ask

about team performance and skill of team players. The second half begins like the first half,

Paris St-Germain have played with a lower performance and Barcelona look to be the

stronger team. The bar has begun to get busier, the majority of the people are men, and 3

more women have entered in the company of men. Some of these have taken notice of the


17 football match as they order their drinks from the bar; here they engage in “small talk”

surrounding who scored the first goal the player David Beckham and Lionel Messi. As they

get their drinks they move towards a table they have chosen which it situated near the 3rd

screen however they are more engaged in conversation than interest towards the football

match.

79th

minute, PSG score and this is scored by the footballer they purchased for high price to

increase the team’s performance. Many people look to the screen to watch the goal the men

make a general comment and continue to watch the screen for around 5 minutes more. The

people who were already engaged in conversation will resume to the conversation at hand,

however the men who are on their own will keep watching the match and engage with the bar

man if he engages first about the match.

10 minutes later, Barcelona score, this has put added pressure on PSG, if they do not score

in the next 3-5min that means their next game is twice as difficult to win in order to get into

the semi finals.

4 minutes added for extra time: PSG score, so now the pressure is again equal to each

team. The game has been very tense as each team has needed the same result in order for the

next game to be successful. This translates into how each team played, making similar

choices, and trying to undermine the other team’s ability in order to keep ahead in the goals

that are scored. GAME OVER.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Within information seeking behaviour, there are many ways to observe people and the means

of obtaining information and using information. Information is a powerful tool when

administered, which can be seen in the emotion portrayed within the first two matches. The


18 information and behaviour towards the particular team work together to strengthen that bond

and increase the level of information gained through each stage.

Analysing football fans has many elements and finding the certain elements that can produce

fascinating results is the important aspect. Within this report the focus is on the context.

Another option to observe football fans is in an actual match setting at a game, as the

intensity would increase and the information received would be similar to the television yet in

a different way as the football stadium would announce a lot of information. Another

approach in mapping footballer’s information seeking behaviours is to observe a set of people

prior to each match. This could be done by analysing the types of informational sources they

use to find the relevant pieces of information. Technology could be used as a main focus

whereby the observer maps the material people use. These include the many websites,

television channels, and apps that may be used in seeking information.

Regarding the emotions that are administered throughout the observations, this element could

be further analysed through a psychological aspect. Emotions here would be the main aspect

of the study using the information gained through the football match to illustrate the range of

behaviours. Research here would surround psychology and the way information theories can

match, for instance monitoring and blundering theory by Suzanne M. Miller a psychologist

could be used as a starting point.

CONCLUSIONS

The above report was done on a small scale, in total six hours were taken to observe. The

settings that were chosen are, secure and small. The group observed were small to medium in

size. A comparison was achieved between the three different groups, on the basis of each

football match. The theories chosen gave the report focus, as each stage mapped a series of

steps required by one or more of the theories. Through the analysis of the observations it


19 became clear that behaviour through each match was similar. This behaviour gathered a range

of emotions as the decisions of the football players changed throughout the match. Three

emotions were apparent which produced a circular model. This circular model began with

happiness as the game began, if goals were produced the happiness levels intensified, if goals

were not produced frustration and anger would be produced. These emotions would continue

throughout the football match, resulting in one emotion or another as the game ended,

depending on the relation between group and football team. Interaction is also administered

through the groups, the most interesting point within this focus is the interaction between

strangers, however the groups do not act like the other is a stranger as they have a mutual

bond already established through the specific football team. Further analysis for this report

may include the focus on behaviours and emotions from a psychological aspect.

REFERENCES

Fisher, E.K & Erdelez, S. & McKechnie, L. (2005). Theories of Information Behaviour.

America: American Society for Information Science and Technology.

Savolainen, R. (2012). “Conceptualizing information need in context” [Available at

http://informationr.net/ir/17-4/paper534.html#.UX5JlqKR-So ] Information Research, 17 (4)

paper 534.

http://informationr.net/ir/17-4/paper534.html#.UX5JlqKR-So


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APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1

Information behaviour

Entertainment & Humor

Transcript of Information behaviour