The attributes of research on end-user online searching behavior: A retrospective review and analysis

A total of 163 studies examining end-user behaviors (as reported in 175 individual articles) were selected and analyzed for their research attributes. From the earliest identified study to those conducted before the end of 2000, recurring themes emerged, as did characteristics unique to particular studies. The majority of researchers employed nonexperimental quantitative data collection methods. However, a select group of qualitative studies and a few experimental investigations also were identified. Research designs combining multiple methodologies were the norm. The variables prevalent across studies were broadly classified into a typology under end-user traits, system attributes, organizational setting, task and request characteristics, performance outcomes and obstacles, and results measures. The specific behaviors that researchers concentrated upon most often were the end-users' searching techniques, relevance judgments about information they found, satisfaction with search results, and prior knowledge brought to bear on online searching assignments. Also examined were trends in publishing, geographic locations of field sites, databases selected for searching activities, and the characteristics of searcher cohorts. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.