The Selection and Information Exchange Behavior of Mystery Fiction Fans in Taiwan

Mystery fiction is one of the popular pleasure reading genres in Taiwan. However, in library and information studies, there is a lack of research on mystery fiction and its readers. To increase the understanding of mystery fiction readers, this study explored four research questions: 1) What are the attractions of mystery fiction for mystery fans? 2) How do mystery fans’ select new readings? 3) How do mystery readers seek and exchange information? 4) In the mystery fiction fans’ communities, how do social roles, norms and value influence members’ information behavior, especially information exchange behavior? In this study, 21 heavy readers of mystery fiction were interviewed. Grounded theory was employed to analyze interviewees’ reading experiences, their mystery fiction selecting strategies, and their experience of exposure to mystery fiction reading groups. Chatman’s (2000) conceptualization of “Small World” was used to observe the information exchange behavior among the mystery fiction reading groups as well. The study results showed that the appeals of mystery fiction can be described by with four elements by Hudson’s (1910) conceptualization of fiction elements. Readers may obtain five different types of reading pleasures during mystery reading. Readers often employed four selection strategies to identity and discover new fiction titles that might appeal to them. Selection may be further influenced by seven factors, including trusted expert comments, reliable publishers, book awards, work adaption into movies or television programs, translation quality, first impression with the excerpts, and the impressions about the physical books. In regards to information behavior, this study found that readers demonstrated different purposes and goals with information seeking prior to and post reading. In the prior information seeking, they sought information to maximize the possibility of a new pleasurable read. In the post-reading information seeking, they looked for information about the work to extend their pleasures, sensationally and cognitively. Finally, this study used Chatman’s (2000) conceptualization of “Small World” to examine how social norms, worldview, and social types influenced mystery fiction fans’ information exchange behavior in the groups.