Competências em informação e The Serious Leisure Perspective: um novo espaço de interlocução

Abstract

Information literacy, a research topic of interest for Information Science that was firstly developed in academic library context, is extended to other life situations. In doing so, the information process, usually focused on problem-solving process in formal contexts (academic and professional realms), and often represented as some information abilities by the current information literacy standards, is contrasted with other other informational realities, especially those that demonstrate other information natures like the affective and/or emotional, a informational dimension that needs more attention of information practice studies. With a holistic and complementary purpose, and grounded on the sociocognitive theoretical framework of information, this participatory research explores the social world of competitive bodybuilders – understood as a positive context – which is explored by the lights of The Serious Leisure Perspective. Therefore, the amateur competitive bodybuilding is deeply analyzed, showing a fresh perspective for the traditional cognitive information literacy conception. "Problem" and "need" is replaced by "pleasure" and "profound" in the understanding of information engagements (and learning) in information seeking process. Beside the notion of traditional, methodical and abstract learning, this study highlights other (not so defined) ways of knowing and being informed, in which the information use depends on the knowledge adquired put in practice. Through this perspective, the information accuracy is not defined exclusively by the cognitive authority or credibility of information, but also by physical, emotional, affective, socio-cultural aspects of information, and ultimately, by the singularity of participants’ bodies. This study concludes that the positive information point of view, especially in leisure, should be part of the information studies research agenda, since it allows the understanding of other information realities of human life, and how information (and information literacy) contributes to the development of happier and healthier communities, and, at the same time, it helps groups (and practices) to be socially known.