Wilson (1996) proposed an inter-disciplinary, general model of human information behavior.
In particular, Wilson draws on research in health information, advertising, economics,
communication and organizational behavior. His model includes the following elements:
character, or context, of an information need; activating mechanism, including stress/coping
theory, that links needs and action; intervening variables (or barriers to seeking information),
including psychological, demographic, role-related or interpersonal, environmental, and source
characteristics; activating mechanism (or the decision to engage in information seeking
behavior), including risk/reward theory and social learning theory. He proposes that these
elements combine in a linear sequence to yield information seeking behavior, including passive
attention, passive search, active search and ongoing search behavior. From his work, we see
the importance of drawing on research outside our field; it adds richness and details to our
models