scholarly journals A Crowd-Powered Task Generation Method for Study of Struggling Search

Author(s):  
Luyan Xu ◽  
Xuan Zhou

AbstractEvaluation of interactive search systems and study of users’ struggling search behaviors require a significant number of search tasks. However, generation of such tasks is inherently difficult, as each task is supposed to trigger struggling search behavior rather than simple search behavior. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been a commonly used task set for research in struggling search. Moreover, the everchanging landscape of information needs would render old task sets less ideal if not unusable for evaluation. To deal with this problem, we propose a crowd-powered task generation method and develop a platform to efficiently generate struggling search tasks on basis of online wikis such as Wikipedia. Our experiments and analysis show that the generated tasks are qualified to emulate struggling search behaviors consisting of “repeated similar queries” and “quick-back clicks”; tasks of diverse topics, high quality and difficulty can be created using this method. For benefit of the community, we publicly released a task generation platform TaskGenie, a task set of 80 topically diverse struggling search tasks with “baselines,” and the corresponding anonymized user behavior logs.

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1.7) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
L LeemaPriyadharshini ◽  
S Florence ◽  
K Prema ◽  
C Shyamala Kumari

Search engines provide ranked information based on the query given by the user. Understanding user search behavior is an important task for satisfaction of the users with the needed information. Understanding user search behaviors and recommending more information or more sites to the user is an emerging task. The work is based on the queries given by the user, the amount of time the user spending on the particular page, the number of clicks done by the user particular URL. These details will be available in the dataset of web search log. The web search log is nothing but the log which contains the user searching activities and other details like machine ID, browser ID, timestamp, query given by the user, URL accessed etc., four things considered as the important: 1) Extraction of tasks from the sequence of queries given by the user 2) suggesting some similar query to the user 3) ranking URLs based on the implicit user behaviors 4) increasing web page utilities based on the implicit behaviors. For increasing the web page utility and ranking the URLs predicting implicit user behavior is a needed task. For each of these four things designing and implementation of some algorithms and techniques are needed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness.


2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-269
Author(s):  
Dan Wu ◽  
Rui Qiao ◽  
Yi Li

Purpose – Mobile users increasingly employ location-based map searches in their daily lives. However, it is still relatively unknown about mobile users’ map related search behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to discover the interactions between the users and mobile map search systems, to reveal the shortcomings of existing mobile map search functions, and to propose improvement suggestions. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a set of controlled user experiments performed on the Baidu mobile phone map, this paper empirically examines users’ location-based mobile search behaviors, such as timing, metering, judging and so on. This paper also conducts statistical correlation tests to generate relation tables and diagrams regarding each variable, for example, the relation between the retrieval time and the retrieval steps. Findings – The results indicate that mobile map users have two important characteristics in their search behaviors: first, mobile map users always follow the single search path. Second, the mobile map search efficiency of users is always low. Research limitations/implications – The situation simulation testing method is mainly used for the construction of a mobile information search behavior environment, which may make the users be nervous and have some effect on the search efficiency. Practical implications – Based on the identification of user behaviors, this paper provides suggestions to optimize and improve mobile map search systems. Originality/value – This paper studies users’ mobile map search behavior based on location and explores the features of user behavior from the perspective of human-computer interaction.


Author(s):  
Juliane Scheil ◽  
Thomas Kleinsorge

AbstractA common marker for inhibition processes in task switching are n − 2 repetition costs. The present study aimed at elucidating effects of no-go trials on n − 2 repetition costs. In contrast to the previous studies, no-go trials were associated with only one of the three tasks in the present two experiments. High n − 2 repetition costs occurred if the no-go task had to be executed in trial n − 2, irrespective of whether a response had to be withheld or not. In contrast, no n − 2 repetition costs were visible if the other two tasks were relevant in n − 2. Whereas this n − 2 effect was unaffected by whether participants could reliably exclude a no-go trial or not, effects of no-gos in trial n were determined by this knowledge. The results differ from effects of no-go trials that are not bound to a specific task. It is assumed that the present no-go variation exerted its effect not on the response level, but on the level of task sets, resulting in enhanced salience of the no-go task that leads to higher activation and, as a consequence, to stronger inhibition. The dissociation of the effects on no-gos in trials n − 2 and n as a function of foreknowledge suggests that the balance between activation and inhibition is shifted not only for single trials and tasks, but for the whole task space.


Author(s):  
Lasse Pelzer ◽  
Christoph Naefgen ◽  
Robert Gaschler ◽  
Hilde Haider

AbstractDual-task costs might result from confusions on the task-set level as both tasks are not represented as distinct task-sets, but rather being integrated into a single task-set. This suggests that events in the two tasks are stored and retrieved together as an integrated memory episode. In a series of three experiments, we tested for such integrated task processing and whether it can be modulated by regularities between the stimuli of the two tasks (across-task contingencies) or by sequential regularities within one of the tasks (within-task contingencies). Building on the experimental approach of feature binding in action control, we tested whether the participants in a dual-tasking experiment will show partial-repetition costs: they should be slower when only the stimulus in one of the two tasks is repeated from Trial n − 1 to Trial n than when the stimuli in both tasks repeat. In all three experiments, the participants processed a visual-manual and an auditory-vocal tone-discrimination task which were always presented concurrently. In Experiment 1, we show that retrieval of Trial n − 1 episodes is stable across practice if the stimulus material is drawn randomly. Across-task contingencies (Experiment 2) and sequential regularities within a task (Experiment 3) can compete with n − 1-based retrieval leading to a reduction of partial-repetition costs with practice. Overall the results suggest that participants do not separate the processing of the two tasks, yet, within-task contingencies might reduce integrated task processing.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svenja Litzkendorf ◽  
Tobias Hartz ◽  
Jens Göbel ◽  
Holger Storf ◽  
Frédéric Pauer ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Recently, public and political interest has focused on people living with rare diseases and their health concerns. Due to the large number of different types of rare diseases and the sizable number of patients, taking action to improve the life of those affected is gaining importance. In 2013, the federal government of Germany adopted a national action plan for rare diseases, including the call to establish a central information portal on rare diseases (Zentrales Informationsportal über seltene Erkrankungen, ZIPSE). OBJECTIVE The objective of this study, therefore, was to conduct scientific research on how such a portal must be designed to meet the needs of patients, their families, and medical professionals, and to provide high-quality information for information seekers. METHODS We chose a 3-step procedure to develop a needs-based prototype of a central information portal. In the first step, we determined the information needs of patients with rare diseases, their relatives, and health care professionals by means of qualitative interviews and their content-analytical evaluation. On the basis of this, we developed the basic structure of the portal. In the second step, we identified quality criteria for websites on rare diseases to ensure that the information linked with ZIPSE meets the quality demands. Therefore, we gathered existing criteria catalogs and discussed them in an expert workshop. In the third step, we implemented and tested the developed prototypical information portal. RESULTS A portal page was configured and made accessible on the Web. The structure of ZIPSE was based on the findings from 108 qualitative interviews with patients, their relatives, and health care professionals, through which numerous information needs were identified. We placed particularly important areas of information, such as symptoms, therapy, research, and advisory services, on the start page. Moreover, we defined 13 quality criteria, referring to factors such as author information, creation date, and privacy, enabling links with high-quality information. Moreover, 19 users tested all the developed routines based on usability and comprehensibility. Subsequently, we improved the visual presentation of search results and other important search functions. CONCLUSIONS The implemented information portal, ZIPSE, provides high-quality information on rare diseases from a central point of access. By integrating the targeted groups as well as different experts on medical information during the construction, the website can assure an improved search for information for users. ZIPSE can also serve as a model for other Web-based information systems in the field of rare diseases. REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER RR1-10.2196/7425


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402110672
Author(s):  
Ruirui Lian ◽  
Wenjing Cai ◽  
Kun Chen ◽  
Hongru Shen ◽  
Xiaopei Gao ◽  
...  

The present research aims to explore the impact of mentoring relationship on college graduates’ job search behavior among Chinese undergraduate students by examining the mediator of job search intention and the moderator of job search self-efficacy. A two-wave survey study was conducted in China ( N = 594). Our findings show a positive indirect relation between mentoring and college graduates’ job search behaviors through job search intention. The graduates’ job search self-efficacy positively moderated the indirect relationship such that when job search self-efficacy was higher, the influence of mentoring on behavior via job search intention was stronger. These findings extend the literature by clarifying how and when mentoring facilitates graduates’ job search behaviors and provide practical implications for facilitating a smooth school-to-work transition in China. As the first study that empirically clarifies why (through job search intention) and when (job search self-efficacy) mentoring function is positively related to job search behavior among Chinese undergraduate students, the present study contributes to the existing mentoring and job search literature. Future research is encouraged to extend the findings by integrating theory of planned behavior (TPB) with self-regulation theory toward deepening current understanding of how and when mentoring can contribute to a student’s success in job search behavior.


Complexity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Xingyu Miao ◽  
Jiayuan Wei ◽  
Yongqi Ge

When the energy-harvesting embedded system (EHES) is running, its available energy (harvesting energy and battery storage energy) seems to be sufficient overall. However, in the process of EHES task execution, an energy shortage may occur in the busy period such that system tasks cannot be scheduled. We call this issue the energy deception (ED) of the EHES. Aiming to address the ED issue, we design an appropriate initial energy level of the battery. In this paper, we propose three algorithms to judge the feasibility of the task set and calculate the appropriate initial energy level of the battery. The holistic energy evaluation (HEE) algorithm makes a preliminary judgment of the task set feasibility according to available energy and consumption energy. A worst-case response time-based initial energy level of the battery (WCRT-IELB) algorithm and an accurate cycle-initial energy level of the battery (AC-IELB) algorithm can calculate the proper initial battery capacity. We use the YARTISS tool to simulate the above three algorithms. We conducted 250 experiments on As Late As Possible (ALAP) and As Soon As Possible (ASAP) scheduling with the maximum battery capacities of 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400. The experimental results show that setting a reasonable initial energy level of the battery can effectively improve the feasibility of the task set. Among the 250 task sets, the HEE algorithm filtered 2.8% of them as infeasible task sets. When the battery capacity is set to 400, the WCRT-BIEL algorithm increases the success rates of the ALAP and ASAP by 17.2% and 26.8%, respectively. The AC-BIEL algorithm increases the success rates of the ALAP and ASAP by 18% and 26.8%, respectively.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Bejjani ◽  
Tobias Egner

Humans are characterized by their ability to leverage rules for classifying and linking stimuli to context-appropriate actions. Previous studies have shown that when humans learn stimulus-response associations for two-dimensional stimuli, they implicitly form and generalize hierarchical rule structures (task-sets). However, the cognitive processes underlying structure formation are poorly understood. Across four experiments, we manipulated how trial-unique images mapped onto responses to bias spontaneous task-set formation and investigated structure learning through the lens of incidental stimulus encoding. Participants performed a learning task designed to either promote task-set formation (by “motor-clustering” possible stimulus-action rules), or to discourage it (by using arbitrary category-response mappings). We adjudicated between two hypotheses: Structure learning may promote attention to task stimuli, thus resulting in better subsequent memory. Alternatively, building task-sets might impose cognitive demands (for instance, on working memory) that divert attention away from stimulus encoding. While the clustering manipulation affected task-set formation, there were also substantial individual differences. Importantly, structure learning incurred a cost: spontaneous task-set formation was associated with diminished stimulus encoding. Thus, spontaneous hierarchical task-set formation appears to involve cognitive demands that divert attention away from encoding of task stimuli during structure learning.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey Siqi-Liu ◽  
Tobias Egner

Adaptive behavior requires finding, and adjusting, an optimal tradeoff between focusing on a current task-set (cognitive stability) and updating that task-set when the environment changes (cognitive flexibility). Such dynamic adjustments of cognitive flexibility are observed in cued task-switching paradigms, where switch costs tend to decrease as the proportion of switch trials over blocks increases. However, the learning mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, here referred to as the list-wide proportion switch effect (LWPSE), are currently unknown.We addressed this question across four behavioral experiments. Experiment 1 replicated the basic LWPSE reported in previous studies. Having participants switch between three instead of two tasks, Experiment 2 demonstrated that the LWPSE is preserved even when the specific alternate task to switch to cannot be anticipated. Experiments 3a and 3b tested for the generalization of list-wide switch-readiness to an unbiased “transfer task,” presented equally often as switch and repeat trials, by intermixing the transfertask with biased tasks. Despite the list-wide bias, the LWPSE was only found for biased tasks, suggesting that the modulations of switch costs are task set and/or task stimulus (item)-specific. To evaluate these two possibilities, Experiment 4 employed biased versus unbiased stimuli within biased task sets and found switch-cost modulations for both stimuli sets. These results establish how people adapt their stability-flexibility tradeoff to different contexts. Specifically, our findings show that people learn to associate context appropriate levels of switch readiness with switch-predictive cues, provided by task sets as well as specific task stimuli.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document