Professor Steven Buchanan

Professor in Comms., Media and Culture

Communications, Media and Culture Division of Communications, Media and Culture School of Arts & Humanities University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4JA

Professor Steven Buchanan

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http://www.stir.ac.uk/people/sjbuchanan

About me

Professor of Human Information Behaviour within the Division of Communications, Media and Culture, University of Stirling.

Research

My human information behaviour research examines how and why people interact with information (or not), and effective channels and sources of information, and influencing factors. I explore complex access and internalised behavioural factors, the former influenced by technology and literacy issues, the latter by social structures and norms.

My work provides insight into what information to provide, to whom, and how. Much of my work addresses the enduring limitations of mass communication strategies, informing targeted communication interventions in the socio-ecological context.

Much recent work has examined information behaviours within marginalised and/or disadvantaged groups, and has been variously funded by AHRC, ESRC, and SLIC. Indicative recent studies include work with young mothers, children, Muslim women, unemployed adolescents, incarcerated men, and community health and social care professionals in areas of multiple deprivations.

The practical impact of my research is attested to via input to various Government, NHS, and third sector advisory boards past and present. Recent work defining the key role of health and social care professionals as information intermediaries has been adopted by the Scottish Government as a key action in their national Health Literacy Action Plan 2017-25.

Outputs (44)

Outputs

Conference Paper (published)

Digital Participation, Surveillance, and Agency: Insights into the Role of Digital Literacy to Manage Risk

Buchanan S & Husain Z (2022) Digital Participation, Surveillance, and Agency: Insights into the Role of Digital Literacy to Manage Risk. In: Kurbanoğlu S, Špiranec S, Ünal Y, Boustany J & Kos D (eds.) Information Literacy in a Post-Truth Era. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 1533. 7th European Conference on Information Literacy (ECIL 2021), Bamberg, Germany, 20.09.2021-23.09.2021. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, pp. 719-729. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99885-1_59

Book Chapter

Exploring the rehabilitative cultural role of the prison library: addressing sensitive information needs via cultural activities.

Canning C & Buchanan S (2021) Exploring the rehabilitative cultural role of the prison library: addressing sensitive information needs via cultural activities.. In: Garner J (ed.) Exploring the roles and practices of libraries in prisons: International Perspectives. Advances in Librarianship, 49. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. pp. 11-37. https://books.emeraldinsight.com/page/detail/Exploring-the-Roles-and-Practices-of-Libraries-in-Prisons/?k=9781800438613

Conference Paper (published)

Character building in childrens’ online information behaviours: applying a virtue epistemology perspective to information literacy.

Mcmenemy D & Buchanan S (2019) Character building in childrens’ online information behaviours: applying a virtue epistemology perspective to information literacy.. In: Kurbanoğlu S, Špiranec S, Ünal Y, Boustany J, Huotari M, Grassian E, Mizrachi D & Roy L (eds.) Information Literacy in Everyday Life. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 989. ECIL 2018: 6th European Conference on Information Literacy, Oulu, Finland, 24.09.2018-27.09.2018. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Verlag, pp. 73-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13472-3_7

Conference Paper (published)

Developing Health Information Literacy in Disadvantaged and Dependent Circumstances: The Everyday Role of Family Nurses

Buchanan S & Nicol E (2019) Developing Health Information Literacy in Disadvantaged and Dependent Circumstances: The Everyday Role of Family Nurses. In: Kurbanoğlu S, Špiranec S, Ünal Y, Boustany J, Huotari M, Grassian E, Mizrachi D & Roy L (eds.) Information Literacy in Everyday Life. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 989. ECIL 2018: 6th European Conference on Information Literacy, Oulu, Finland, 24.09.2018-27.09.2018. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, pp. 124-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13472-3_12

Conference Paper (published)

Developing Information Literacy in Dependent and Disadvantaged Circumstances: A Transitional Approach in the Digital Health Context

Buchanan S, Jardine C & Ruthven I (2018) Developing Information Literacy in Dependent and Disadvantaged Circumstances: A Transitional Approach in the Digital Health Context. In: Kurbanoğlu S, Boustany J, Špiranec S, Grassian E, Mizrachi D & Roy L (eds.) Information Literacy in the Workplace. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 810. ECIL 2017: 5th European Conference on Information Literacy, Saint-Malo, France, 18.09.2017-21.09.2017. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Verlag, pp. 409-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74334-9_43

Keynote

The Information Behaviours of Young Mothers

Buchanan S (2017) The Information Behaviours of Young Mothers. 2nd Bridging Theory and Practice in Information Science (BTAP-IS 2017), Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Glasgow UK, 16.11.2017.

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Meaningful Digital Health Interventions: Bridging Digital Divides via Tailored Design

Buchanan S (2017) Meaningful Digital Health Interventions: Bridging Digital Divides via Tailored Design. 8th Annual Innovation in Healthcare Delivery Systems 2017 Symposium, Austin, TX, 06.04.2017-07.04.2017. https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/~/media/Files/MSB/Centers/HealthcareInitiativeResponsive/2017%20Symposium/2017%20Abstracts/Buchanan_Meaningful%20Digital%20Health%20Interventions.pdf

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Health Information Seeking Behaviours

Buchanan S (2016) Health Information Seeking Behaviours. National Health Service Education Scotland Health Literacy Conference, Edinburgh, UK, 26.10.2016.

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Collaboration in the Digital Domain

Buchanan S & McMenemy D (2011) Collaboration in the Digital Domain. Internet Librarian International Conference, London, UK, 26.10.2011-28.10.2011.

Conference Paper (published)

Towards a Public Library Digital Service Taxonomy

Buchanan S & McMenemy D (2010) Towards a Public Library Digital Service Taxonomy. In: .), Lecture Notes in Computer Science 6273: Research and Advanced Technology for Digital Libraries, 6723. 14th European Conference Digital Libraries (ECDL 2010), Glasgow, UK, 06.09.2010-10.09.2010. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 425-428. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15464-5_48

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Evaluating digital library usefulness

Buchanan S & McMenemy D (2009) Evaluating digital library usefulness. Internet Librarian International Conference (ILI 2009), London, UK, 15.10.2009-16.10.2009.

Teaching

I currently teach the following postgraduate classes:

MMAPP17 Human Information Behaviour: provides theoretical and practical understanding of how and why people interact with information (or not), and the factors influencing information behaviours both physical and digital. Explores complex access and internalised behavioural factors, the former influenced by issues of technology and media and information literacies, the latter by sociocultural and psychological factors.

CMCPP15 Advanced Topics in Communication: provides critical understanding of the principle theories, concepts and principles of effective communication. On this module I provide theoretical and practical understanding of factors of persuasive communication (e.g. audience attention, emotion, motivation, resistance) including how to incorporate into effective communication campaign design.

MMAPP12 Mass Media Research Methods: provides critical understanding of philosophy, ethics, and practices of social research in the context of media and communication studies; and practical understanding of associated research methodologies, tools and techniques.On this module I provide theoretical and practical understanding of research design including mixed methods design.

Research programmes

Research themes