Informing practice: information experiences of ambulance officers in training and on‐road practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present findings of an enquiry into the use and experience of information, in learning to become an ambulance officer. The paper aims to explore how the information environment is constituted for novice and experience practitioners. The paper also aims to consider what type of information is considered important by novice and experienced practitioners in learning about practice and profession. Design/methodology/approach – The study is approached from an information literacy (IL) perspective, where IL is viewed as the catalyst for learning about work and professional practice. It draws on constructivist‐influenced grounded theory method to explore how an IL experience is constituted for the worker. Findings – Three modalities of information which inform practice are described. IL is illustrated as more than just an experience with text or skills‐based literacy. It is viewed as socio‐cultural practice which is shaped by discourse. Research limitations/implications – The research was limited to an in‐depth exploration of one professional group in one geographic location. Practical implications – The study highlights the value of an IL approach to understanding how information is experienced in a workplace context. Originality/value – This paper reports original research of significance to information professionals and educators.