Web searching by the "general public": an individual differences perspective

被引:11
作者
Ford, Nigel [1 ]
Eaglestone, Barry [1 ]
Madden, Andrew [1 ]
Whittle, Martin [2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Sheffield, Dept Informat Studies, Sheffield S10 2TN, S Yorkshire, England
[2] Univ Sheffield, Dept Mat Engn, Sheffield S10 2TN, S Yorkshire, England
关键词
Information searches; Information retrieval; Research methods; Gender; Internet; Individual behaviour; WORLD-WIDE-WEB; INFORMATION-SEEKING; COGNITIVE-STYLE; INTERNET; BEHAVIOR; USERS; EXPERIENCE; STRATEGIES; ANXIETY; GENDER;
D O I
10.1108/00220410910970285
中图分类号
TP [自动化技术、计算机技术];
学科分类号
080201 [机械制造及其自动化];
摘要
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of a number of human individual differences on the web searching of a sample of the general public. Design/methodology/approach - In total, 91 members of the general public performed 195 controlled searches. Search activity and ratings of search difficulty and success were recorded and statistically analysed. The study was exploratory, and sought to establish whether there is a prima facie case for further systematic investigation of the selection and combination of variables studied here. Findings - Results revealed a number of interactions between individual differences, the use of different search strategies, and levels of perceived search difficulty and success. The findings also suggest that the open and closed nature of searches may affect these interactions. A conceptual model of these relationships is presented. Practical implications - Better understanding of factors affecting searching may help one to develop more effective search support, whether in the form of personalised search interfaces and mechanisms, adaptive systems, training or help systems. However, the findings reveal a complexity and variability suggesting that there is little immediate prospect of developing any simple model capable of driving such systems. Originality/value - There are several areas of this research that make it unique: the study's focus on a sample of the general public; its use of search logs linked to personal data; its development of a novel search strategy classifier; its temporal modelling of how searches are transformed over time; and its illumination of four different types of experienced searcher, linked to different search behaviours and outcomes.
引用
收藏
页码:632 / 667
页数:36
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