This paper addresses a theoretical gap in understanding geographic mobility in information practices by proposing an integrated spatial framework. It examines how place and mobility shape information access among vehicle residents by connecting four place-based, spatially grounded frameworks: information horizons, information landscapes, information grounds and information worlds.
A qualitative, ethnographic study, informed by a phenomenological perspective, was conducted to explore participants' lived experiences. This approach emphasizes how individuals interpret space and place through social interactions, cultural practices and embodied experiences.
The study develops a unified spatial framework model integrating the four concepts across micro- and macro-levels. Information horizons represent individual-level engagement, expanding into broader information landscapes, which are embedded within socially constructed information grounds and, ultimately, information worlds. The findings demonstrate that information access is shaped by increasing levels of social interaction and is grounded in community-specific norms.
This paper offers a novel, holistic integration of spatial metaphors across information behavior and practices research. The proposed framework bridges individual and social perspectives while incorporating mobility and place, providing new insights into information access for mobile populations and supporting future research in this area.
