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Definition
According to Bopp and Smith, an imposed query is a question "asked by a user on behalf of someone else" often posed to librarians at the reference desk. An example of an imposed query can be illustrated in an adolescent (imposer) curious about sexual education is intimidated to ask directly about the subject matter, and sends, or imposes, an acquaintance (agent) to make the query with the librarian (intermediary). The multiple tiers of interaction are dependent on several factors: clarity of question, understanding, question-negotiating, knowledge level, and more. In her dissertation, MLIS doctoral student Melissa Gross examined these stages of the imposed query. The significance of hers and other studies is that imposed queries needs to be re-examined at the user-librarian level to better understanding the question negotiation process, achieve higher level of user satisfaction, and to create a smoother and faster answer-question return time.
In a study by Melissa Gross and Matthew L. Saxton, an evaluative research study was conducted at public libraries to determine library uses and understand their library use behavior. The importance of the study indicated that by understanding the users, agents and their behaviors: we can isolate and quantify imposed queries. In conclusion, further studies of imposed queries can lead to successful transactions since librarians who come across difficult and repetitive queries.
Figure 1. The Imposed Query
(Gross, 1995, p. 134)
Stages of Development (refer to Figure 1)
- IQ1 Initiated: The query as represented by the imposer. May be at the Q3 (formalized) or Q4 (compromised) level.
- IQ2 Transferred: The mutual understanding of the query as developed in the transfer process from the imposer to the agent. May be at the Q3 or Q4 level.
- IQ3 Interpreted: The query as the agent has stored it. May be at the Q2 (conscious), Q3, or Q4 level.
- IQ4 Negotiated: The query as mutually understood by the agent and the intermediary. The query at this point is at the Q4 level. This understanding may be affected by beliefs, stereotypes, etc. the intermediary has about the imposer.
- IQ5 Processed: The query as understood by the agent in light of the resource(s) used to respond to itt Level Q4.
- IQ6 Evaluated: The query as understood by the imposer in relation to the response provided. Level Q4.Return to top
Related topics
- Queries
- Information-Seeking Behavior
- Question Negotiation
- Closed-Ended Question
- Open Questions
- User SatisfactionReturn to top
References & Recommended readings
- Bopp, R. E. and Smith, L. C. Smith. (2001) Reference and information services: an introduction, (3rd ed.). Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited.
- Gross, M. R. (1998). Imposed queries in the school library media center. (Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles, 1998).
- Gross, M. (1999). Imposed versus self-generated questions: implications for reference practice. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 39(1), 53-61.
- Gross. M. (1998). The imposed query: implications for library service evaluation. "Reference Services & User Services Quarterly, 37"(3), 290-9.
- Gross, M. and Saxton, M.L. (2001). Who wants to know? imposed queries in the public library. Public Libraries, 40(3), 170-6.
- Gross, M. and Saxton, M.L. (2002). Integrating the imposed query into the evaluation of reference service: A dichotomous analysis of user ratings. Library & Information Science Research, 24(3), 251-263.
- Gross, M. (2006). Studying children's questions: imposed and self-generated information seeking at school. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc.
- Gross, M. (1995). The imposed query. RQ, 35(2), 236.
- Richardson, J.V. Jr. Teaching general reference work: the complete paradigm and competing schools of thoughts, 1890-1990. Library Quarterly 62(Jan 92), 55-89.Return to top
