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Research
As an interdisciplinary social scientist, I conduct research in three related areas:
1.) information phenomena in serious leisure;
2.) ethnography and visual methods; and
3.) the history and theory of information studies.
My research is organized around the question: What is the nature of information in the pleasures of life? I am investigating this matter through the concatenated study of serious leisure realms, which are crossroads of information and enjoyment. My empirical research explores the use and structure of leisure information on personal and social levels, and my dissertation is a case study of information phenomena in the hobby of gourmet cooking. I am a methodologist and practicing ethnographer with a particular interest in visual techniques. I take an interdisciplinary approach and am involved in sociology and leisure studies, especially through collaboration with Dr. Robert A. Stebbins. As inspiration and for theoretical resources I draw heavily upon northern European information scholarship in library and information science. My goals are to generate basic knowledge about information in the pleasures of life; challenge existing ideas that have largely emerged from academic problem scenarios; establish positive models of organic, flourishing information environments; enliven classrooms with upbeat topics; and enrich the information experience for leisure enthusiasts.
An overview of my research on serious leisure for non-academics (without jargon!) is available here.
1.) information phenomena in serious leisure;
2.) ethnography and visual methods; and
3.) the history and theory of information studies.
My research is organized around the question: What is the nature of information in the pleasures of life? I am investigating this matter through the concatenated study of serious leisure realms, which are crossroads of information and enjoyment. My empirical research explores the use and structure of leisure information on personal and social levels, and my dissertation is a case study of information phenomena in the hobby of gourmet cooking. I am a methodologist and practicing ethnographer with a particular interest in visual techniques. I take an interdisciplinary approach and am involved in sociology and leisure studies, especially through collaboration with Dr. Robert A. Stebbins. As inspiration and for theoretical resources I draw heavily upon northern European information scholarship in library and information science. My goals are to generate basic knowledge about information in the pleasures of life; challenge existing ideas that have largely emerged from academic problem scenarios; establish positive models of organic, flourishing information environments; enliven classrooms with upbeat topics; and enrich the information experience for leisure enthusiasts.
An overview of my research on serious leisure for non-academics (without jargon!) is available here.
interventions
My work aims to be an imaginative, energetic, and committed form of intervention in the field of library and information science (LIS). I believe a different character of LIS is possible, one that moves beyond pragmatic concerns with information resources and technologies to consider positive and upbeat information phenomena across the entire human experience. Read more...
Contact
Jenna Hartel [photo and illustration] | Ph.D. | Associate Professor
Faculty of Information | University of Toronto
140 St. George Street | Toronto | Ontario | M4S 3G6
CANADA | 416-506-1636 (home office)
email: jenna.hartel@utoronto.ca | web: www.jennahartel.info
Office: Bissell #645
Faculty of Information | University of Toronto
140 St. George Street | Toronto | Ontario | M4S 3G6
CANADA | 416-506-1636 (home office)
email: jenna.hartel@utoronto.ca | web: www.jennahartel.info
Office: Bissell #645
