Explanation of Information-Seeking Behaviors in the Framework of the Theories of Information Integration and Cybernetics

Document Type : Review Article

Author

• Mehri Shahbazi

Assistant Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science in Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

10.22067/infosci.2024.87844.1205

Abstract

Introduction: Cybernetics, a multidisciplinary science with extensive applicability across various fields, has attracted growing attention and scholarly investigation since its inception. Research demonstrates a strong correlation between information integration theories across diverse disciplines and the fundamental principles of cybernetics. Building on this foundation, the present study seeks to explore the theories of Gaia, general systems, the ecology of knowledge, and the global brain, with a particular emphasis on their interconnections with the core tenets of cybernetics.
Methodology: Given the nature of this research, a documentary methodology was adopted. This approach involved an in-depth analysis of existing studies on information-seeking behaviors, with a particular focus on theories of information integration and cybernetics. The foundational principles of these theories were systematically examined in relation to the cybernetic theory of information.
Findings: The findings of this research reveal a strong correlation between cybernetics and information integration theories. As a discipline centered on concepts of control, feedback mechanisms, and the management of information within systems, cybernetics shares foundational principles with information integration theories. Key elements of cybernetics, such as data collection, storage, exchange, and the interconnectedness of matter, energy, and information, are essential in constructing information chains, cycles, and self-organizing systems. Hierarchical control within these systems is intrinsically tied to the integration of information. Historically, cybernetics has underscored the pivotal role of information in control processes, with particular emphasis on its collection, storage, and exchange. While social networks focus on sociological groupings and their systemic integration, the convergence of cybernetics and Gaia theory becomes evident in the context of information control, storage, and retrieval. Gaia theory conceptualizes Earth as a complex, interconnected system comprising the biosphere and its physical components—atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere—reflecting cybernetic principles of system integration and interaction. These factors collectively form a feedback, or cybernetic, system that sustains a physically and chemically conducive environment for terrestrial life (Lovelock, 2000). Notably, the concept of cybernetic feedback is central to this theory. Feedback, a cornerstone of cybernetics, was emphasized by Lerner (1972), who highlighted its critical importance to the field. General systems theory underscores the intrinsic unity of the universe, positing it as an interconnected hierarchical structure comprising matter, energy, and information (Russell, 1995). As a discipline focused on information-based systems, cybernetics aligns closely with the foundational principles of general systems theory. Furthermore, cybernetics has extended these principles, introducing new dimensions of exploration and inquiry. Lerner (1987) argues that cybernetically derived concepts have fundamentally reshaped our worldview, transitioning from a classical paradigm centered on matter and energy to a contemporary tripartite framework that incorporates energy, substance, and information as the foundational constituents of the world. He further posits that organized systems are inconceivable without information. Knowledge ecology theory introduces three fundamental concepts: information cycles or chains, self-organization, and sustainability. Among these, stabilization is recognized as a primary type of control within cybernetic systems. The concept of control, central to Wiener’s foundational definition of cybernetics, is employed to describe the regulation and coordination of systems. Systematic control in cybernetics extends beyond the brain as the sole governing entity of the human body, proposing a hierarchical control structure composed of interconnected subsystems. This hierarchical information chain reflects the organization of the human brain, as conceptualized in global brain theory. A parallel can also be drawn between this framework and the information-seeking behaviors observed in the organization of information structures. 
Discussion & conclusion: The findings reveal that the shared components of information integration and cybernetics theories, particularly within the context of information-seeking behavior, are especially significant. These common elements can be effectively utilized by domain experts to diagnose and address specific challenges in information retrieval within existing information networks.
Originality/value: Given that integration theories emphasize human information-seeking behaviors, and in the contemporary technological era are closely intertwined with web technologies and their associated tools and machines, recognizing the shared characteristics of cybernetic science—as conceptualized by Wiener as the science of control and human-machine communication—can prove instrumental in improving information retrieval within modern systems.

Keywords

• Cybernetics
• Information integration
• Gaia theory
• General system theory
• Knowledge ecology theory
• Global brain theory

Main Subjects

• Information Science Foundations

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