Applying an information-seeking dialogue model in an interactive information retrieval system

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 829-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojun (Jenny) Yuan ◽  
Nicholas J. Belkin
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Experimental System ◽  
Task Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dialogue Model ◽  
Dialogue Structure ◽  
Baseline System ◽  
Search For Information ◽  
Task Types

Purpose – People often engage in different information-seeking strategies (ISSs) within a single information-seeking episode. A critical concern for the design of information retrieval (IR) systems is how to provide support for these different behaviors in a manner which searchers can easily understand, navigate and use, as they move from one ISS to another. The purpose of this paper is to describe a dialogue structure that was implemented in an experimental IR system, in order to address this concern. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a user-centered experiment to evaluate the IR systems. Participants were asked to search for information on two different task types, with four different topics per task, in both the experimental system and a baseline system emulating state-of-the-art IR systems. The authors report here the results related explicitly to the use of the experimental system's dialogue structure. Findings – For one of the task types, most participants followed the search steps as predicted in the dialogue structures, and those who did so completed the task in fewer moves. For the other task type, predicted order of moves was often not followed, but participants again used fewer moves when following the predicted order. Results demonstrate that the dialogue structures the authors designed indeed support effective human information behavior patterns in a variety of ways, and that searchers can effectively use a system which changes to support different ISSs. Originality/value – This study shows that it is both possible and beneficial, to design an IR system which can support multiple ISSs, and that such a system can be understood and used successfully.

scholarly journals Exploring the context of visual information seeking

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahram Sedghi ◽  
Zeinab Shormeij ◽  
Iman Tahamtan
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Visual Search ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Task Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Retrieval Systems ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Information Retrieval Systems

Purpose Information seeking is an interactive behaviour of the end users with information systems, which occurs in a real environment known as context. Context affects information-seeking behaviour in many different ways. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that potentially constitute the context of visual information seeking. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a Straussian version of grounded theory, a qualitative approach, to conduct the study. Using a purposive sampling method, 28 subjects participated in the study. The data were analysed using open, axial and selective coding in MAXQDA software. Findings The contextual factors influencing visual information seeking were classified into seven categories, including: “user characteristics”, “general search features”, “visual search features”, “display of results”, “accessibility of results”, “task type” and “environmental factors”. Practical/implications This study contributes to a better understanding of how people conduct searches in and interact with visual search interfaces. Results have important implications for the designers of information retrieval systems. Originality/value This paper is among the pioneer studies investigating contextual factors influencing information seeking in visual information retrieval systems.

scholarly journals Vocabulary usage among Asian EFL learners during speech: a corpus-based quantitative analysis of the effects of L1 type, L2 proficiency and task type

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin'ichiro Ishikawa
Keyword(s):  
Native Speaker ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Task Type ◽  
Sentence Length ◽  
L2 Proficiency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Novice Learners ◽  
Type D ◽  
Task Types

PurposeUsing a newly compiled corpus module consisting of utterances from Asian learners during L2 English interviews, this study examined how Asian EFL learners' L1s (Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and Thai), their L2 proficiency levels (A2, B1 low, B1 upper and B2+) and speech task types (picture descriptions, roleplays and QA-based conversations) affected four aspects of vocabulary usage (number of tokens, standardized type/token ratio, mean word length and mean sentence length).Design/methodology/approachFour aspects concern speech fluency, lexical richness, lexical complexity and structural complexity, respectively.FindingsSubsequent corpus-based quantitative data analyses revealed that (1) learner/native speaker differences existed during the conversation and roleplay tasks in terms of the number of tokens, type/token ratio and sentence length; (2) an L1 group effect existed in all three task types in terms of the number of tokens and sentence length; (3) an L2 proficiency effect existed in all three task types in terms of the number of tokens, type-token ratio and sentence length; and (4) the usage of high-frequency vocabulary was influenced more strongly by the task type and it was classified into four types: Type A vocabulary for grammar control, Type B vocabulary for speech maintenance, Type C vocabulary for negotiation and persuasion and Type D vocabulary for novice learners.Originality/valueThese findings provide clues for better understanding L2 English vocabulary usage among Asian learners during speech.

Impact of Task Types on Collaborative Information Seeking Behavior

Libri ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-245
Author(s):  
Dan Wu ◽  
Shaobo Liang ◽  
Jing Dong ◽  
Jin Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Information Search ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Task Type ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Collaborative Information Seeking ◽  
Navigational System ◽  
Task Types

Abstract This study examined the task type as an important factor in collaborative information seeking activities, devoting special attention to its impacts on collaborative information seeking behavior, awareness and sentiment. Collaborative information search experiments were conducted on a collaborative search system—Coagmento—for three different types of task (informational, transactional and navigational). System log, surveys and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, with quantitative and qualitative analyses carried out on the data which related to 12 participants in four groups. Quantitative analysis employed SPSS 20, while qualitative analysis was carried out using ATLAS.ti. Through our research, we found that the task types have impact on users’ collaborative information seeking behavior in terms of web page browsing, search and image using, as well as interact with task awareness. A collaborative team approach is more suitable for completing the informational task than transactional and navigational tasks, while the task type also influences the sentiment. Concretely speaking, the transactional task causes more negative emotions.

Pregnancy-related health information behaviour of Estonian women

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadri Ojaperv ◽  
Sirje Virkus
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Maternity Hospital ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Search For Information

Purpose This study aims to increase the understanding of the pregnancy-related information behavior (IB) of pregnant women in Estonia. Design/methodology/approach The research involved a quantitative research methodology consisting of a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was collected from pregnant Estonian women through a self-administered Web-based questionnaire using a convenience sampling during the period from January to February 2019. A total of 300 pregnant women answered the questionnaire. The data were analysed using statistical analysis and the results of the study were compared with the results of previous studies. Findings The three topics on which information was most frequently sought were: fetal development, use of medicines during pregnancy and symptoms of pregnancy. The main sources of information were the internet and the midwife. The most reliable and valuable source of information was a midwife. Health-related information was sought mainly because it helped women make decisions related to pregnancy and childbirth. A number of factors facilitate the information seeking process. In addition, widespread access to the internet and technological skills facilitated IB. The following factors hindered the search for information: the controversy and/or ambiguity of information published on the internet and the time spent searching for information. Most women used wearable technologies during pregnancy. Research limitations/implications This study has several limitations. First, the weakness of online surveys is the potential lack of representativeness, as it excludes from the survey those who do not have access to or ability to use the internet for various reasons (Evans and Mathur, 2005; Limbu et al., 2021). Second, as most recruitment for the study took place online, there was a risk that those who did not use the internet could be excluded from the survey. Third, as the questionnaire was also shared in the Facebook news feed by the Women’s Clinic and Maternity Hospital of the East Tallinn Central Hospital, it may be that the respondents recruited through it more often used the support provided by medical professionals. Fourth, due to the volume limits of the study, it is not possible to present all the results of the study on the basis of socio-demographic characteristics and stage of pregnancy. Therefore, the findings cannot be generalized to the broader population and future studies should explore a larger and more representative populations. Practical implications This study will give some useful information to help to improve the services offered for pregnant women in Estonia. Social implications The findings of this study may inform how to better support this target group. Originality/value There is a lack of research in Estonia that focuses on the IB of pregnant women and this research fills this gap.

Web‐based information retrieval trends of researchers

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 757-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anwarul Islam ◽  
K.C. Panda
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Role Model ◽  
Web Searching ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Printed Materials ◽  
The Third World

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to find out the trends of web‐based information seekers at Sambalpur University, India since the internet is more helpful than the library in the present electronic era.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on the case study method. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the relevant researchers at Sambalpur University in order to ascertain their web searching habits.FindingsThe application of is ever increasing – to the extent that people believe that electronic material will eventually replace the traditional library and users need not go there to find and collect the information they need. The study revealed, however, that in one Indian university, traditional library and printed materials are still more effective to researchers than web‐based information and resources.Originality/valueThis is an original case study on web‐based information retrieval trends of university researchers. This paper will help web researchers to obtain a clear‐cut picture of the information seeking and retrieval trends of the researchers of an Indian university which will serve as a role model for the universities of the Third World.

Applying an expectancy-value model to study motivators for work-task based information seeking

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Tølbøl Sigaard ◽  
Mette Skov
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Expectancy Value ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Subsequent Interview ◽  
Internal Sources ◽  
Search For Information ◽  
Value Model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to operationalise and verify a cognitive motivation model that has been adapted to information seeking. The original model was presented within the field of psychology. Design/methodology/approach – An operationalisation of the model is presented based on the theory of expectancy-value and on the operationalisation used when the model was first developed. Data for the analysis were collected from a sample of seven informants working as consultants in Danish municipalities. Each participant filled out a questionnaire, kept a log book for a week and participated in a subsequent interview to elicit data regarding their information source behaviour and task motivation. Findings – Motivation affected source use when the informants search for information as part of their professional life. This meant that the number of sources used and the preference for interpersonal and internal sources increased when the task had high-value motivation or low-expectancy motivation or both. Research limitations/implications – The study is based on a relatively small sample and considers only one motivation theory. This should be addressed in future research along with a broadening of the studied group to involve other professions than municipality consultants. Originality/value – Motivational theories from the field of psychology have been used sparsely in studies of information seeking. This study operationalises and verifies such a theory based on a theoretical adaptation of this model made by Savolainen (2012c).

The role of historical and contextual knowledge in enterprise search

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Lykke ◽  
Ann Bygholm ◽  
Louise Bak Søndergaard ◽  
Katriina Byström
Keyword(s):  
Information Search ◽  
Contextual Knowledge ◽  
Search System ◽  
Work Task ◽  
Log Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Enterprise Search ◽  
Work Tasks ◽  
Search For Information ◽  
Task Types

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to examine enterprise searching practices across different work areas and work tasks in an enterprise search system in an international biotechnology company.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method approach studying employees' authentic search activities during a 4-month period by log data, questionnaire survey and interviews. The log data analysed the entire active searcher group, whereas the questionnaire and interviews focused on frequent searchers.FindingsThe three studies provided insight into the searching activities and an understanding of the way searchers used the enterprise search system to search for information as part of their work tasks. The data identified three searcher groups, each with specific search characteristics. Four work task types were identified, and for all four types the searchers applied a tracing searching technique with use of contextual and historical relationships as paths.Practical implicationsThe findings point to the importance of knowledge on historical and contextual relations in enterprise search.Originality/valueThe work sheds new light on enterprise searchers' information search practices. A significant contribution is the identification of a tracing search method used in relation to four essential work task types. Another contribution is the importance of historical and contextual knowledge to support the tracing search and decide what paths to follow.

Defining a theoretical framework for information seeking and parenting

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Montesi ◽  
Belén Álvarez Bornstein
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Strong Basis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Autonomous Communities ◽  
Conflicting Information ◽  
Search For Information

Purpose Information seeking for child-rearing is an increasingly popular topic in the medical and social science literature, though a theoretical framework in which to understand this phenomenon is still missing. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach The authors present results from a qualitative research in which data were obtained from 21 interviews and the personal experience of one of the authors. Participants were all mothers supportive of attachment parenting, a parenting style inspired by attachment theory which advocates making parenting decisions on a strong basis of information. They were recruited in several Spanish autonomous communities and interviewed between April and July 2015. Findings Results were analyzed using grounded theory and allowed to define five major themes: becoming a mother implies a new perception of oneself in which it is common to feel more in need for information; the need to search for information originates in situations of “conflict” or crisis, or as a consequence of conflicting information; information is judged and weighed on the basis of affect and perceptions; scientific and experiential knowledge are valued as complementary; and finally, information seeking appears as one activity of identity work. Originality/value Placing conflict, instead of uncertainty, at the beginning of the search process allows to emphasize the role of information seeking in mediating relationships and interactions at a societal level. From this point of view, the authors understand that LIS should pay more attention to information seeking as an important factor in social change.

Understanding the effects of task and topical knowledge in the evaluation of websites as information patch

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Lee ◽  
Natalie Pang
Keyword(s):  
Learning Styles ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Task Type ◽  
Task Orientation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Computer Laboratory ◽  
Task Instructions ◽  
Topical Knowledge

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of task and user’s topic familiarity in the evaluation of information patch (websites). Design/methodology/approach An experimental study was conducted in a computer laboratory to examine users’ information seeking and foraging behaviour. In total, 160 university students participated in the research. Two types of task instructions, specifically defined and non-specifically defined (general) task types were administered. Mixed methods approach involving both quantitative and qualitative thematic coding were adopted, from the data of the questionnaire surveys and post-experiment interviews. Findings In the context of task attributes, users who conducted information seeking task with specifically defined instructions, as compared to the non-specifically defined instructions, demonstrated stricter credibility evaluations. Evidence demonstrated the link between topical knowledge and credibility perception. Users with topical knowledge applied critical credibility assessments than users without topical knowledge. Furthermore, the evidential results supported that the level of difficulty and knowledge of the topic or subject matter associated with users’ credibility evaluations. Users who have lesser or no subject knowledge and who experienced difficulty in the information search tended to be less diagnostic in their appraisal of the information patch (website or webpages). Users equipped with topical knowledge and who encountered less difficulty in the search, exhibited higher expectation and evaluative criteria of the information patch. Research limitations/implications The constraints of time in the lab experiment, carried out in the presence of and under the observation of the researcher, may affect users’ information seeking behaviour. It would be beneficial to consider users’ information search gratifications and motivations in studying information evaluations and foraging patterns. There is scope to investigate users’ proficiency such as expert or novice, and individual learning styles in assessing information credibility. Practical implications Past studies on information evaluation, specifically credibility is often associated with users’ characteristics, source, or contents. This study sheds light on the context of task type, task difficulty and topical knowledge in affecting users’ information judgement. Originality/value One of the scarce studies in relating task orientation, task difficulty and topical knowledge to information evaluations.

Exploring social aspects of task perception using cognitive sociology

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-543
Author(s):  
Eun Youp Rha ◽  
Nicholas Belkin
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Task Type ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Cognitive Sociology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Seeking Behavior

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore effects of individuals' social context on their perception of a task, for better understanding of social aspects of task-based information seeking behavior.Design/methodology/approachThis study took a qualitative case approach and conducted semi-structured one-on-one interviews with 12 participants. A cross-context comparative approach was chosen to identify effects of the social contexts on individuals. For comparative analysis, the research population was tenured faculty members in two different disciplines, natural sciences and humanities. The interview data were analyzed and coded using NVivo12 through an open coding process.FindingsThe results demonstrate that the same task type is differently perceived by individuals in different social contexts. Reasons for the different perceptions in the different contexts are associated with social factors of the disciplines, specifically social norms and practices.Originality/valueThis study uses a novel theoretical framework, cognitive sociology, to examine social aspects of human perception in relation to task-based information seeking behavior, which has been little understood theoretically and empirically in the field of information science.

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