ABSTRACT
What is the conceptual basis for risk-informed information practice? This chapter lays the groundwork for risk-informed information practice by presenting and situating its two key concepts: information literacy and risk. Taking each concept in turn, the chapter starts by introducing the sociocultural theories that have played a particularly important role in shaping information literacy, including the mid-range theory of information literacy, literacy as social practice and practice theory. The chapter then draws on the work of anthropologist, Mary Douglas, and other sociocultural theorists to establish a sociocultural framing of risk and to distinguish this approach from other common ways in which risk has been theorised. The chapter will also present an overview of how information has been treated in risk literature to date and vice versa to further situate risk-informed information practice or reinforce the need for its conceptualisation.
