Thesis
Exploring the information needs and seeking behaviours of adult male prisoners in Scotland
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2022
- Thesis identifier
- T16438
- Person Identifier (Local)
- 201790518
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- This study explored the information needs and seeking behaviours of prisoners via interviews with twenty-four adult male prisoners at HMP Shotts, a maximum-security prison in Scotland. Participants sought information on a variety of topics, with a clear preference for interpersonal sources who were considered trustworthy and/or possessed lived experience of imprisonment. The meeting of prisoners’ information needs was inhibited by physical and security-related barriers expected in prisons, but also cognitive and affective issues (e.g. low self-esteem, distrust, and fear of stigma) and stress-coping issues (e.g. suppression). A range of contextual influencing factors, particularly hypermasculine social norms, shaped prisoners’ behaviours in response to sensitive information needs relating to mental health, relationships, and learning issues. Prisoners frequently employed self protective information behaviours, including secrecy and deception, to shield themselves from the potential negative consequences of sensitive needs being discovered by others (e.g. stigma); often leaving such needs unmet to the detriment of their mental health, relationships, and rehabilitation. Findings contribute to our understanding of prisoners’ information behaviour, particularly the relatively understudied adult male demographic who account for the vast majority of the prisoner population worldwide (World Prison Brief, 2021). Findings offer new insight into key theoretical concepts drawn from Wilson (1997), Chatman (1996; 1999) and Taylor (1968) in the prison context, particularly the relationship between stress, self-protective information behaviours, and the recognition and articulation of needs. Importantly, findings present valuable further evidence to support existing assertions that prisoners live in information poverty (i.e. Canning and Buchanan, 2019; Chatman, 1999). Further research is recommended to exploration of sensitive information needs and avenues to support the meeting of these, and practical recommendations include communication campaigns designed to raise prisoners’ awareness of (and access to) mental health support services in prisons and expanding prisoners’ access to technology such as mobile phones and the internet.
- Advisor / supervisor
- McMenemy, David
- Buchanan, Steven
- Ruthven, Ian, 1968-
- Resource Type
- DOI
- Funder
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PDF of thesis T16438 | 2022-12-06 | Public | Download |