Collaborative information seeking in student group projects

2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 526-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Leeder ◽  
Chirag Shah
Keyword(s):  
Group Work ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Student Behavior ◽  
Group Project ◽  
Search System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Search ◽  
Group Projects ◽  
Collaborative Information Seeking

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the collaborative information seeking (CIS) behaviors of students conducting authentic group work projects, and the features of a collaborative search system that are most useful to these students. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory study was conducted with 41 participants in ten groups working on an in class, for-credit group project assignment utilizing a collaborative search system. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered on the everyday search practices of students over the course of the group project, along with quality scores for the sources found. Findings Results showed that student behavior during their CIS related to the quality of their search outcomes, as the effective and efficient searchers found better quality sources. Students’ pre-task attitudes and experiences toward group work also relate to the quality of their search outcomes. Student feedback demonstrated the importance of making collaborative search tools convenient, lightweight, and easy to use. Practical implications These findings may be useful to researchers designing and studying the effectiveness of collaborative search tools, and to instructors planning to incorporate group projects into their classes. Originality/value In this paper, the authors document the authentic behaviors and attitudes of students conducting group projects in an classroom setting, and offer specific recommendations for developers of collaborative search systems. These findings provide greater context for CIS research into the collaborative search behaviors of students conducting group work projects.

scholarly journals Understanding collaborative tourism information searching to support online travel planning

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abu Shamim Mohammad Arif ◽  
Jia Tina Du
Keyword(s):  
Information Search ◽  
User Study ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Information Searching ◽  
Search System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Travel Planning ◽  
Collaborative Search ◽  
Tourism Information

Purpose Collaborative information searching is common for people when planning their group trip. However, little research has explored how tourists collaborate during information search. Existing tourism Web portals or search engines rarely support tourists’ collaborative information search activities. Taking advantage of previous studies of collaborative tourism information search behavior, in the current paper the purpose of this paper is to propose the design of a collaborative search system collaborative tourism information search (ColTIS) to support online information search and travel planning. Design/methodology/approach ColTIS was evaluated and compared with Google Talk-embedded Tripadvisor.com through a user study involving 18 pairs of participants. The data included pre- and post-search questionnaires, web search logs and chat history. For quantitative measurement, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS; for log data and the qualitative feedback from participants, the content analysis was employed. Findings Results suggest that collaborative query formulation, division of search tasks, chatting and results sharing are important means to facilitate tourists’ collaborative search. ColTIS was found to outperform Tripadvisor significantly regarding the ease of use, collaborative support and system usefulness. Originality/value The innovation of the study lies in the development of an integrated real-time collaborative tourism information search system with unique features. These features include collaborative query reformulation, travel planner and automatic result and query sharing that assist multiple people search for holiday information together. For system designers and tourism practitioners, implications are provided.

scholarly journals Empirical studies of collaborative information seeking: a review of methodological issues

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Hertzum ◽  
Preben Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Lab Experiments ◽  
Major Implication ◽  
Collaborative Information Seeking ◽  
Study Setting

Purpose Information seeking is often performed in collaborative contexts. The research into such collaborative information seeking (CIS) has been proceeding since the 1990s but lacks methodological discussions. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and discuss methodological issues in existing CIS studies. Design/methodology/approach The authors systematically review 69 empirical CIS studies. Findings The review shows that the most common methods of data collection are lab experiments (43 percent), observation (19 percent) and surveys (16 percent), that the most common methods of data analysis are description (33 percent), statistical testing (29 percent) and content analysis (19 percent) and that CIS studies involve a fairly even mix of novice, intermediate and specialist participants. However, the authors also find that CIS research is dominated by exploratory studies, leaves it largely unexplored in what ways the findings of a study may be specific to the particular study setting, appears to assign primacy to precision at the expense of generalizability, struggles with investigating how CIS activities extend over time and provides data about behavior to a larger extent than about reasons, experiences and especially outcomes. Research limitations/implications The major implication of this review is its identification of the need for a shared model to which individual CIS studies can contribute in a cumulative manner. To support the development of such a model, the authors discuss a model of the core CIS process and a model of the factors that trigger CIS. Originality/value This study assesses the current state of CIS research, provides guidance for future CIS studies and aims to inspire further methodological discussion.

The quality of the metacommunication of the interface and search system of the CAPES Portal of e-Journals

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 398-409
Author(s):  
Gracielle Mendonça Rodrigues Gomes ◽  
Beatriz Valadares Cendon
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Search System ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Information Retrieval Systems

Purpose The study aims to propose the use of the semiotics inspection method (SIM) which is an interpretative and qualitative method from semiotics engineering (SE) for the evaluation of the communicability of systems and to evaluate digital libraries and information retrieval systems (IRS). The paper presents the results of the application of this method in the evaluation of the quality of the communicability of the interface and search system of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) Portal of e-Journals, a major scientific digital library in Brazil. There are proposed solutions to improve this system included. Design/methodology/approach The study used the SIM to evaluate the system. Two evaluators inspected the system. They performed the comparison and the analysis of three types of metamessages (metalinguistic, static and dynamic). The metamessages generated by the evaluators were contrasted to find inconsistencies and ambiguities in the CAPES Portal of e-Journals. Finally, the last step of the method was the final assessment about the inspection. Findings The evaluators identified 52 problems of communicability. These problems were ranked according to severity ratings established by Nielsen (1994). They were grouped in ten types of problems present in the interface and in the search system of the CAPES Portal of e-Journals. Originality value This research contributes theoretically to the field of information retrieval and to the area of human–computer interaction and, in particular, to the theory of SE by adapting SE methods that allow the evaluation of communicability to the context of the scientific IRS. Results obtained through scientific methods should contribute to development of the interface and search tools of IRS to better support query formulation and retrieval of relevant information and more efficiently satisfy the information needs of individuals.

Collaborative information searching as learning in academic group work

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Wu ◽  
Shaobo Liang ◽  
Wenting Yu
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Search Process ◽  
Research Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Search ◽  
Academic Resources ◽  
Academic Group

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore users’ learning in the collaborative information search process when they conduct an academic task as a group. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a longitudinal study for a three-month period on an actual task. The participants, who were undergraduate students, needed to write a research proposal in three months to apply for funding for a research project, including a three-hour experiment. Findings The results show that undergraduates’ learning in the collaborative search process for academic group work included knowledge reconstruction, tuning, and assimilation. Their understanding of the topic concepts improved through the process, and their attitudes became more optimistic. Besides, the learning in the collaborative information search process also enhanced participants’ skills in communication, research, information search, and collaboration. To improve learning outcomes, professional and appropriate academic resources are required, as well as effective division of labor, positive sharing behaviors, and use of collaborative systems. Practical implications The future development of collaborative information search systems should focus on the needs of academic research and support for elements such as instant communication and knowledge sharing. Originality/value This paper contributes to research into searching as learning by understanding undergraduates’ collaborative search behavior for writing a proposal.

Collaborative information seeking environments benefiting from holistic ergonomics

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anika Meyer ◽  
Ina Fourie
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Perspectives ◽  
Collaborative Information Seeking ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the value of utilising a holistic ergonomic approach, covering engineering, cognitive and social perspectives, to cultivate beneficial and productive collaborative information seeking (CIS) systems and environments, specifically with regard to three main CIS pillars (control, communication and awareness). Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative research approach, based on a selective corpus of CIS literature, was utilised to perform a content analysis to note if terms and concepts normally associated with engineering, cognitive and social ergonomics can be used to eliminate terms reflecting issues related to three CIS pillars (control, communication and awareness) that can benefit from a holistic ergonomic approach. Findings – The content analysis revealed that a fairly extensive amount of holistic ergonomic terminology is prominent within the CIS literature, therefore establishing a connection between the two disciplines: CIS and ergonomics. This suggests that CIS system issues could benefit from the insights of a holistic ergonomic approach. Research limitations/implications – Since this is an exploratory study the scope of CIS literature utilised in the content analysis was limited to a selection considered most important by the authors; this should be supplemented by further research. Practical implications – Intended to instigate interest in further exploration of the beneficial and productive implications and practical application of holistic ergonomics in designing CIS systems and environments. Originality/value – This is the first research paper in the Library and Information Science literature that explores the potential of utilising holistic ergonomics to cultivate CIS systems and environments.

Collaborative search using an implicitly formed academic network

2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 537-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somu Renugadevi ◽  
T.V. Geetha ◽  
R.L. Gayathiri ◽  
S. Prathyusha ◽  
T. Kaviya
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Community Formation ◽  
Search System ◽  
Search Behaviour ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Search ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Academic Network ◽  
Dynamic Updating

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose the Collaborative Search System that attempts to achieve collaboration by implicitly identifying and reflecting search behaviour of collaborators in an academic network that is automatically and dynamically formed. By using the constructed Collaborative Hit Matrix (CHM), results are obtained that are based on the search behaviour and earned preferences of specialist communities of researchers, which are relevant to the user's need and reduce the time spent on bad links. Design/methodology/approach – By using the Digital Bibliography Library Project (DBLP), the research communities are formed implicitly and dynamically based on the users’ research presence in the search environment and in the publication scenario, which is also used to assign users’ roles and establish links between the users. The CHM, to store the hit count and hit list of page results for queries, is also constructed and updated after every search session to enhance the collaborative search among the researchers. Findings – The implicit researchers community formation, the assignment and dynamic updating of roles of the researchers based on research, search presence and search behaviour on the web as well as the usage of these roles during Collaborative Web Search have highly improved the relevancy of results. The CHM that holds the collaborative responses provided by the researchers on the search query results to support searching distinguishes this system from others. Thus the proposed system considerably improves the relevancy and reduces the time spent on bad links, thus improving recall and precision. Originality/value – The research findings illustrate the better performance of the system, by connecting researchers working in the same field and allowing them to help each other in a web search environment.

Triggers and strategies related to the collaborative information-seeking behaviour of researchers in ResearchGate

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1077-1096
Author(s):  
Sanam Ebrahimzadeh ◽  
Saeed Rezaei Sharifabadi ◽  
Masoumeh Karbala Aghaie Kamran ◽  
Kimiz Dalkir
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Collaborative Information Seeking

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the triggers, strategies and outcomes of collaborative information-seeking behaviours of researchers on the ResearchGate social networking site.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from the population of researchers who use ResearchGate. The sample was limited to the Ph.D. students and assistant professors in the library and information science domain. Qualitative interviews were used for data collection.FindingsBased on the findings of the study, informal communications and complex information needs lead to a decision to use collaborative information-seeking behaviour. Also, easy access to sources of information and finding relevant information were the major positive factors contributing to collaborative information-seeking behaviour of the ResearchGate users. Users moved from collaborative Q&A strategies to sharing information, synthesising information and networking strategies based on their needs. Analysis of information-seeking behaviour showed that ResearchGate users bridged the information gap by internalizing new knowledge, making collaborative decisions and increasing their work's visibility.Originality/valueAs one of the initial studies on the collaborative information-seeking behaviour of ResearchGate users, this study provides a holistic picture of different triggers that affect researchers' information-seeking on ResearchGate.

scholarly journals Information seeking by geoscientists: an update on Bichteler and Ward (1989)

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-460
Author(s):  
Knut Alstad ◽  
Morten Hertzum
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how often geoscientists use different information sources and how this pattern of source use balances their perceptions of the quality and ease of use of the information sources. Design/methodology/approach The geoscientists at the Geological Survey of Norway were surveyed about their information-seeking behavior. The response rate was 70 percent. Findings The geoscientists primarily relied on web search and colleagues for information. These two information sources were perceived as easy to use, more so than bibliographic databases (GeoRef, Web of Science, and the library database). Bibliographic databases were used infrequently and perceived as yielding poorer quality results than consulting a colleague. The likelihood of using web search and colleagues to find information about a new topic was determined by the ease of using these sources. In contrast, the quality of the resulting information did not determine the frequency with which any of the information sources were used. The geoscientists who spent more time looking for information searched the web more often, had more reservations toward the quality of information obtained from colleagues, and read more journal articles and conference papers. Research limitations/implications Geoscientists’ use of an information source is self-reinforcing and unlikely to increase through improving its quality alone. It should be noted that the study is restricted to one geoscience organization. Originality/value The main reference about the information-seeking behavior of geoscientists is almost three decades old. This study provides an update.

Instructors’ professional vision for collaborative learning groups

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micah Gideon Modell
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Collaborative Group ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Think Aloud ◽  
Professional Vision ◽  
Group Project ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning Group ◽  
Think Aloud Protocol ◽  
Group Projects

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how instructors approach the task of diagnosing collaborative learning group dysfunction when presented with an opportunity and a request to do so. Design/methodology/approach This mixed methods study asked instructors experienced in using group work to sequentially respond to weekly instalments of reflective journal entries representing a fictional member of a collaborative learning group working through a group project. A web-based instrument captured quantitative and qualitative data during the first phase where instructors worked on their own and in the second phase where participants used a think-aloud protocol while engaging in the same task. The data were analysed to understand their professional vision (what they notice and how they make sense of it as well as consistency across instructors) for collaborative group projects. Findings This study found that instructors were consistent neither in what they noticed nor in how they made sense of what they perceived. This resulted in a tendency not to label dysfunctional groups as such. Social implications If the instructors lack professional vision for group projects, the students are unlikely to learn to work in groups and the instructors will find it difficult to seek help and learn from one another. Originality/value This is an exploratory study because there was minimal extant research on the topic. Methods included the use of narrative fiction and a remote think-aloud protocol.

Information-seeking in multilingual digital libraries

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hany M. Alsalmi
Keyword(s):  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Black College ◽  
Community Research ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Search System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
And Behavior

Purpose Less attention has been paid to users’ interactions and behavior in studying multilingual search. Although digital library researchers have yet to assess user interaction and behavior in multilingual search, they have concurred that there is a need for user studies that document the extent to which information retrieval systems meet multilingual users’ needs and expectations. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This study is composed of five individual cases. The case study participants were Saudi students enrolled either at a large state university or Historically Black College and University located in the same community. Research questions are, what do Saudi Digital Library (SDL) users experience when searching within the SDL in Arabic and English? And what strategies do they use if they fail to find resources? Data collected for this study were via a qualitative method called video-stimulated recall. Findings In the Arabic search tasks, participants realized that finding resources is not easy. Participants expressed their concerns about the lack of relevance and accuracy of results returned by the search system, indicating weak trust and confidence in the search system. Whereas in the English search task, participants felt more satisfied and confident in their ability to trust the results returned from the search system. Participants expressed their satisfaction in the search experience as it provided them with accurate and varying resources. The participants faced difficulties finding Arabic resources than English resources in the SDL. Originality/value This study is considered one of the earliest works in studying the information-seeking behavior of multilingual digital libraries in the Arabic language. The value of this study arises as being the first study to investigate and report the information-seeking behavior of SDL users.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document