Operationalizing the notion of information as a subjective construct

We discuss information by attempting to operationalize it using: (1) Dervin and Nilan's idea that information is a subjective construct rather than an objective thing; (2) Brookes's idea that information is that which modifies knowledge structure; and (3) Neisser's idea that perception is top-down or schemata driven to the point of paradox. De Mey, Minsky's theory of frames, and top-down and bottom-up models from reading theory are discussed. We conclude that information must be rare because only rare information can modify knowledge structure at its upper levels, and that to modify knowledge structure at its upper levels (its essence) information may have to enter the perception cycle in two stages. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.