Information Influence in Society’s Information Environment : An Empirical Analysis Using the Grounded Theory

Abstract

This paper investigates information influence in society’s Information Environment. The Grounded Theory approach was used to collect and to analyse the data. A conceptual framework of the thematic categories and item categories was developed on the basis of empirical evidence and past studies that reflect the findings of the field. The most fundamental components in this conceptual framework were six thematic categories (information influence, information operations, cyber operations, psychological operations, kinetic operations, and deception), their item categories, the items themselves, and the interrelationships between the thematic categories. The propositions regarding the thematic categories and the interrelationships between them showed 13 higher levels of abstractions of statements in the conceptual framework, which was a unique result of this study.