Course:LIBR559A/Stennett (2012)

Citation

Stennett, C. R., Weissenborn, M. R., Fisher, G. D., & Cook, R. L. (2011). Identifying an effective way to communicate with homeless populations. The Royal Society of Public Health, 126, 54–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2011.09.020

Purpose of article

This article attempts to understand the information seeking behaviors in the homeless community. The article is primarily interested in understanding how to improve the distribution of health information to homeless populations.

Main Argument(s) and supporting evidence

The authors argue for the importance of providing information orally while meals are being delivered at non-profit and charitable organizations providing free food. In their survey, they found that few respondents regularly read announcements placed on bulletin boards.

The authors also argue for the need to develop a phone and email network to disseminate information to the homeless population. They note that 53.8% of the participants in their survey own a mobile phone. Some potential barriers to the use of phones that the authors note are the reliability of service. Some survey participants had a phone as they can call emergency services even without minutes.

Method(s) (e.g., case studies, interviews, thought piece, survey)

The authors conducted interviews with homeless individuals at a local charitable relief group providing free meals. The authors used a Likert-type survey. Surveys were conducted on Sundays to avoid needing to ask for participant's names when determining if the authors were duplicating results. The authors also used a convenience sampling method given the difficulties with locating a single homeless individual. In total, the survey included 39 participants.

Areas / Topics / Keywords

Homelessness, Information Seeking, Communications, Information Systems

Author(s)’(s) understanding/definitions of key concepts

The authors used a broad definition of homelessness. There primary criteria for selecting homeless participants was that they had to be 18 years or older, not have a permanent night time residence or have an unstable living situation. The authors did not organize individuals by race, gender, age or marital status.

Novel ideas introduced by this article

The survey demonstrates the growing ubiquity of mobile phones in society. The authors also offer some interesting ideas on how to set up an email or messaging service to support the homeless population.

Pitfalls, blind spots, and weaknesses of this article

The survey had to rely on convenience sampling due to limitations of the study's setting. In addition, the survey had a limited sample size again due to limitations of the survey's setting.

Potential Contribution to the scholarship of Social Studies of Library and Information and to the practice of Librarianship

While the survey focuses on information systems that charitable support organizations can provide these are systems that libraries could provide as well. The survey also notes that their survey found anecdotal evidence that public libraries played an important role in participant's access to information systems such as email and the internet.

Page Author: Logan Bingle