Abstract & Overview
Uncertainty, in general, is a fundamental aspect of human activity and underlies much of our decision making. The notion of uncertainty in information seeking, in particular, dates back to Shannon and Weaver (1949) and since then has been investigated in many forms. Kulthau’s (1993) work on information uncertainty is perhaps the most extensive. Through two specific examples, this article proposes uncertainty as a unifying heuristic in information architecture. Measurements of uncertainty can serve a diagnostic function in both the design and evaluation of information technologies and user interfaces. As a relatively new field of practice and study, information architecture borrows from established disciplines, such as computer science, human-computer interaction, and graphic design. Historically, library and information science (LIS) has proven to be a major source of guidance and of inspiration. For instance, existing knowledge from LIS on controlled vocabularies and facets informs thought on those subjects in information architecture. Borrowing from prior research in information-seeking behavior, this essay explores the idea of identifying a common, overarching principle in information architecture: uncertainty