record

Thesis Info

LABS ID
00476
Thesis Title
Exploring Naming Behavior In Personal Digital Image Collections: The Iconology And Language Games Of Pinterest
Author
Tami Sutcliffe
2nd Author
none
3rd Author
none
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Information Science)
Year
2014
Number of Pages
179
University
University of North Texas
Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Brian C. O’Connor
Supervisor e-mail
Brian.OConnor AT unt.edu
Other Supervisor(s)
Dr. Linda Schamber, Committee Member ; Dr. Shawne Miksa, Committee Member
Language(s) of Thesis
English
Department / Discipline
Department of Library and Information Sciences
Languages Familiar to Author
English
URL where full thesis can be found
tamisutcliffe.com/Sutcliffe_Exploring_Naming_Behavior_Dissertation_2014.pdf
Keywords
social collecting; user-curators; Pinterest; naming behavior; image attributes; language games; Panofsky, Rosch and Shatford Layne matrix;
Abstract: 200-500 words
As non-institutional digital image collections expand into social media, independent non-professional image curators are emerging, actively constructing alternative naming conventions to suit their needs in a social collecting environment. This project considers how independent user-curators are developing particular sense-making behaviors as they actively contribute names to large, unstructured social image collections. In order to capture and explore this evolving language adaptation, Pinterest names are analyzed using a matrix composed of Panofsky’s three strata of subject matter, Rosch’s levels of categorical abstraction, Shatford Layne’s image attributes and Wittgenstein’s language game constructions. Analyzing Pinterest image names illuminates previously unnoticed behaviors by independent user-curators as they create shared collections. Exploring the various language choices which user-curators select as they apply this new curating vocabulary helps identify underlying user needs not apparent in traditionally curated collections restricted to traditional naming conventions.