Purpose – Apart from information retrieval there is virtually no other area of information science that has occasioned as much research effort and writing as “user studies”. Within user studies the investigation of “information needs” has been the subject of much debate and no little confusion. The aim of this paper is to attempt to reduce this confusion by devoting attention to the definition of some concepts and by proposing the basis for a theory of the motivations for information-seeking behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the issues of user studies and information needs within the context of information science. Findings – The paper finds that the problem seems to lie, not so much with the lack of a single definition, as with a failure to use a definition appropriate to the level, and purpose of the investigation. Originality/value – The analysis may be used as a springboard to research based upon a wider, holistic view of the information user.