The development of just-in-time information acquisition behaviors in Generation X
Abstract
The ways that humans acquire information is undergoing a fundamental change comparable to the introduction of Gutenberg’s moveable type and printing press and the development of broadcast systems in the twentieth century. In the Internet Era – the first decades of the twenty first century – individuals seek information on subjects that are salient or important to them from sources they trust at the time that they need or want that information. In this analysis, we use a 33-year longitudinal study of Generation X beginning in middle school and extending to midlife to describe how youth and young adults in Generation X build and use the skills and interests necessary to function in a just-in-time information acquisition system.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Library Science and Information Literacy
Educational Strategies and Epistemologies
Generational Differences and Trends
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The Information Society
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 54–72
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN