Keyword comparison: a user-centered feature for improving web search tools

Current web search tools are examined. Human cognitive limitations in working memory, text processing and comprehension, problem solving, and decision-making in a search process are analysed. Based on the literature review, a user-centered feature, keyword comparison, was proposed to help users review the search results and extract useful information. Experimental search engines and browsers were developed using Visual Basic, Java and Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programming languages. An experiment was conducted to test the effectiveness of this feature. The dependent variables were the number of relevant web sites identified during the 1-hour period and satisfaction. The independent variable was the interface type of the search tools. A between-subject t-test experimental design was utilized with 20 subjects. Testing of the hypothesis, by contrasting the user-centered feature against the current search engine, indicated that feature keyword comparison improved users' search performance by 77% and satisfaction in using the feature by 35%. (C) 2000 Academic Press.