This document summarizes a study on how parents seek and understand information. It conducted interviews with 35 parents from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. The study found that parents most needed information on child health, development, and care. Parents' top sources of information were personal relationships, the internet, and magazines/television. However, factors like lack of trust in sources, social isolation, and a difficult system hindered some parents' ability to find information. The study aims to understand how information literacy applies to the complex real-world challenges of parenting.

1. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 1
Information Seeking at Home:
A study of the use and understanding of
information by parents of young children
Christopher G. Walker
PhD Researcher
April 2009

2. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk
“Parents needed information on: health for the child, child
care, and child development”
(Nicholas and Marden 1997).
2

3. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 3

4. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk
• ASTHMA RISK TO COUCH POTATO KIDS – The Guardian (03/03/2009)
• SCHOOLS ADMISSION PROCESS TOO COMPLEX – BBC News (03/03/2009)
• STOP CHILDREN DRINKING FULL-FAT MILK – The Daily Mail (10/02/2009)
• SINGLE MUMS RAISE AGE OF SUPER-CHAVS – The Daily Mail (10/02/2009)
• NURSERY BETTER THAN GRANDMA - REPORT – The Guardian (10/02/2009)
• VICTORIAN STANDARDS IMPROVE RESULTS – The Daily Mail (09/02/2009)
• NO ALCOHOL FOR UNDER-15S CALL – BBC News (29/01/2009)
• NEW MUMS IN CRISIS AND HAVE NO SUPPORT The Daily Mail (17/01/2009)
• POVERTY NO EXCUSE FOR POOR EXAM RESULTS – The Guardian (16/01/2009)
• MEASLES CASES ON THE INCREASE – The Daily Mail (09/01/2009)
• LIFE IS GETTING WORSE FOR CHILDREN – The Telegraph (09/06/2008)
• CHILDREN'S DRINK GUIDANCE BY GOVERNMENT – The Telegraph (02/06/2008)
• PARENTS URGED TO READ TO CHILDREN MORE – The Guardian (30/05/2008)
• BACTERIAL INFECTION LINK TO COT DEATHS – BBC News (30/05/2008)
• THE VERY REAL PRESSURES OF A PARENT – The Daily Mail (01/05/2008)
• CERVICAL CANCER VACCINE MAKE IT OPTIONAL – The Guardian (25/04/2008)
4

5. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk
• Semi-structured interview with 35
parents.
• Observations and outreach work to try
and obtain examples from “hard to reach
parents”.
• Purposeful sample of parents comprising
mixed-socio economic backgrounds.
• Parents recruited from five primary
schools and one local church.
5

6. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 6
• All interview data was transcribed
manually from MP3 audio files into
NVivo 8.
• Approximately 170,000 words of
transcription.

7. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 7
• Each transcript was initially coded using “line-by-
line” open coding into NVivo 8.
• Coding techniques being used during analysis:
– constant comparison/ axial coding,
– theoretical coding,
– word frequency analysis etc.
• Current state of play:
– 322 free nodes being reduced into three nodes and core
themes

8. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 8
The results are still being analysed and as such are still tentative and
subject to refinement. However, after the initial open-coding, a number
of themes emerged from the data.
Assessing People
Emotions Places
Catalysts Questions
Hindrances System
Internet Trust

9. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 9
“My opinion of them as a character
how long I have known them will
affect my opinion of what they say and
that’s quite strange really cos you
don’t really think about how you
make decisions” Betty
“Having said that, as a parent I don’t
think I would go as far as
that...parenting shouldn’t be as
difficult as that and you do look for
more like logical stuff that sounds
reasonable” Alison

10. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 10
 Closely aligned with hindrances and catalysts
 Fear and Anxiety
 Getting it wrong
 Not knowing what to do
 Not knowing where to go
 Frustration at being caught in the SYSTEM
“one of my kids had a rash one time…I rang my husband’s
mum, ‘they have a rash what do I do?’ So she was there
for me...I panic when it’s my kids, they’re not allowed to be
poorly.” Dasie

11. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 11
“If I don’t know where to go; if I don’t know certain things, like what
can I do, Emma use to say to me I can get you in touch with a lady
called Connie. And I did go to her and she gave me praise. She used
to pick me up and we use to have a chat and stuff and she told me if I
ever felt depressed or awt just go down and see Connie.”
• Catalysts are enablers that support and allow parents to
seek for and find information.
• Catalysts among lower socio-economic groups often
revolve around “advocates” or “gate keepers” in the form of
parent support advisors and family outreach workers
• Catalysts for those “everyday-type questions” seemed to
revolve around those sources which provided easily
accessible and “credible” information. (Trusted sources)

12. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 12
“Err...my special care nurses were very good they told me I needed
medication and the vitamins, and it was really frustrating and really
annoying that I knew that every time I would go to that doctors that
she would question me.” Carol
Hindrances are those issues that are barriers to parents finding
information.
 Lack of Trust
 The System
 Social Isolation
 Fear
 Access

13. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 13
A major source of information for parents and is seemingly being
adopted as a “first port of call”. ... “it’s like magic…”
Case:
Dasie, feels socially isolated, does not have any local friends and does not trust her
neighbours so instead she has developed friendships and relationships through
internet chat rooms. The relationships in the chat rooms have become a trusted
source of help and advice for her and have developed into very real friendships as
she meets with them both in the real world and in cyberspace.
Beverly uses the internet a lot—she has also used the internet extensively when
looking for information about the MMR vaccine. Through a conversation in an
internet chat room, she came across an internet site which provided an alternative
view to the “official” medical line on the MMR vaccine. After following the internet
links on the site, as well as participating in the online discussion groups, she was
convinced that the MMR vaccine was not proven to be safe and that her children
should have the single jabs

14. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 14
Personal relationships seem to be the single most important source
of information for parents.
Trusted friend or family member
People with similar outlook or values – “just like me”
Own parents…sometimes!
Middle class have better social capital … and use it.
Lower socio-economic don’t:
 mistrust and a perception that a secret would be spread around the
community;
 everyone else is in the “same boat” and has their own problems;
 don’t want to be seen as weak;
 a fear of social services getting involved;
 it’s my problem—I will deal with it;
 a fear of been seen as failure by others;
 social isolation is sometimes accompanied by harrowing accounts of
clinical depression and even attempted suicide.

15. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 15
“I would also speak to my colleagues and ask them what
they know about it.” Suzie (Professional)
“I think if I ask for help…I feel as if I am a failure. As I
see it, I have already been a failure cos of what [the]
kids have done and that and how my life panned out…I
think I would, I would feel like more of a failure if I
asked for help.” Julie, (Single Mum on Housing Estate)

16. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 16
 Places refers to resources used by parents excluding the
internet and people.
 Some places differ depending on life stage e.g. books and
parenting magazines seem to be particularly popular especially
for parents with very young children
 Supernanny was watched by almost everyone!
 Newspapers
 Public libraries do not seem to be seen as a place for parents
to try and find information. Only one other mother mentioned
that she had gone to the library to look for some information
books for her daughter.

17. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 17
 early childhood issues: sleep, food, child development,
immunisations, child development;
 later childhood issues: school choice, homework, clubs,
academic attainment;
 specific issues: children with behaviour problems, children with
illnesses, benefit entitlements.
See: Nicholas & Marden, 1997

18. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 18
The systems can be seen as either a great support or a hindrance.
Fern and Fiona:
Both expressed their exasperation at being “caught in the system” and
the inadequacies of social services as they have failed over many
years to provide them with information, help and support.
The consequence of this is a feeling of isolation and breakdown of trust
between the parent and the support service. Fiona even blames the
long-running “saga” with social services and their lack of support for
her depression

19. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 19
Andrew:
Is very positive about the multi-agency help and support he and his
family were given when his son was diagnosed with autism.
Andrew noted that it had helped that he and his wife were both
educated professionals, and he felt that that had helped him and his
wife be pro-active and navigate the system (bureaucracy), which at
times could seem daunting and difficult.

20. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 20
 Trust can be a:
 person;
 source.
 But predominantly a
person.
 Experience is the key
attribute
Trust is an important concept that threads through and links all of
the themes together

21. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 21
 Parents seek for and asses information in different ways;
 Predominantly rely on other people’s experience (trusted sources);
 Rely on known sources or “tacit knowledge” to make educated
guesses;
 Rely on quick and expedient answers – “just good enough”
Question?
How does current information literacy theory translate into the
complexity and often “messiness” of life and parenting?

22. Christopher G Walker | Leeds Metropolitan University | c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk 22
Christopher Walker
PhD Researcher
Faculty of Innovation North
Leeds Metropolitan University
Priestley Hall - Room 206
Beckett Park
Leeds LS6 3QS
Phone: 0113 812 8669
Email: c.g.walker@leedsmet.ac.uk