Politiskt engagerade ungdomars informationssökning
InformationssökningUngdomarPolitikInformationInformationspraktikerPolitiskt engagemangInformationsbehov
This Bachelor?s thesis is related to the area within library and information studies that focuses on information seeking and information practices. The study deals with how politically engaged young people seek information in relation to their political interests. The purpose of the study is to create an understanding of the roles that different forms of information-related activities play within the framework of political interest and of the feelings, experiences and challenges that such activities may give rise to for those involved. The study also discusses purposes and motivation for information seeking and use in political engagement. In order to address the problem statement I have conducted a qualitative interview study where I interviewed four politically active young people. The findings of the study indicate a number of recurring trends but also variations in the information practices of the informants. Daily news updates and the social interaction appear to be among the most important information-related activities. Some of the information-related activities are connected to the elements of the engagement that are more personal and private in nature, while other information activities are related to the social dimensions of the engagement. It would seem that political engagement is divided in two different spheres, a social and another more individual sphere. This finding is important for our understanding of how the different information-related activities are linked to each other. The findings and the conclusions of the study are presented in a theoretical model.