What is next for information world mapping? International and multidisciplinary approaches to understanding information behaviors/practices in context

As the use of arts-involved and data visualization methods increases in information science, it is essential to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of various methods. An international lineup of information researchers shares their experiences using the participatory, visual elicitation technique Information World Mapping (IWM) in their work. The authors begin with an overview of IWM, detailing its origins and emerging directions. They summarize their application of IWM to describe information behaviors/practices across various locations, cultures, disciplines, and technology access environments. The authors conclude by discussing key questions and areas of exploration for IWM in information research, including cultural influences, changes in media and methods for data collection, power dynamics, and researcher positionality and reflexivity. Insights offer new possibilities for the next phase of IWM in information research, including challenges and areas for innovation. •Researchers in North America, Europe, and Asia have applied information world mapping in various fields.•IWM can be flexibly used with different research designs to explore various topics in multifaceted contexts.•Varying on a participatory spectrum, IWM accommodates participants with diverse cultural and SES backgrounds.•IWM allows researchers to experiment with data collection and analysis methods based on positionality and reflexivity.•The flexibility and adaptability of IWM may help expand and extend future information behavior/practice research.