Exploring collaborative tools in collaborative information behaviour research: A scoping review

With the emergence and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies into schools, work settings and other environments, there is a need to explore the literature to understand the tools used for collaborative activities and how human–AI collaboration could enhance collaborative outcomes. This study employs a scoping review that led to the selection of 51 collaborative information behaviour (CIB) papers. The current review used Borghoff and Schlichter’s 3C model and Shah’s C5 model of collaboration to guide the content analysis process. We identified two categories of tools – (1) tools used in laboratory settings for experiments and exploratory studies and (2) traditional tools used in professional settings (e.g. schools and workplaces). The results also revealed that while certain elements of Shah’s C5 model of collaboration (i.e. communication and collaboration) are frequently portrayed in CIB studies as collaborative activities, only communication, coordination and cooperation are supported with tools. With the continuous introduction and adoption of chatbots and generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini and others, we discovered that CIB research lacks studies on AI–human collaboration, which could help in understanding group work in the digital age and determining CIB outcomes in collaborative contexts when AI agents are involved.