Recognition of stages in the user's information‐seeking process during online searching by novice searchers

Online Review ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 297-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Spink ◽  
Colleen Cool
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Online Searching

Eyes on the frame

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Heike Kessler ◽  
Lars Guenther
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Framing Effects ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Online Search ◽  
Online Searching ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Frames ◽  
Online Information Seeking ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Using the internet parallel to or after television (TV) consumption changes the way people receive news. The way information is framed by the media has been found to influence the behavior of news recipients. The purpose of this paper is to hypothesize that the exposure to TV media frames would affect a lay audience’s online information-seeking behavior. Design/methodology/approach In an experiment combining eye tracking and content analysis, participants (n=72) were exposed to one of three TV clips with different media frames (based on a full-sample content analysis) that focused on Alzheimer’s disease. After exposure, participants informed themselves about the issue online. Eye tracking allows to investigate whether individuals mainly scan information, or whether they compute information on a higher level of attention (use more thorough deliberate comparison of information and really reading information). Findings Three different frames of online content were identified. Framing was found to influence the individual online searching and reading of information on a descriptive level (entering search words and viewing website content) to some degree, but not on a procedural level (such as selecting online search results). Research limitations/implications This study makes a significant contribution to the literature embedding an established theoretical process like framing effects into the internet literature. Regarding the broader theoretical context, this study shed some light on cross-media framing effects on online behavior. Applying the psychological perspective of framing theory to explain and predict online searching behavior is beneficial for specific types of online search behavior. Main limitations are the not representative student sample and the forced task that participants had to inform themselves about Alzheimer’s disease online. Practical implications The results have practical implications for the creation of TV-related websites. There can be a positive, profitable synergy of TV and online websites. The websites can complement the TV programs with the focus on information needs of the recipients depending on the TV activated audience frames. Therefore, media managers would do well to plan the contents of their websites as internet-based resources that meet the activated information needs. Originality/value This study is among the first to investigate the framing effects of TV on the online information searching behavior of individuals. A deeper understanding of how media frames, especially from TV, are affecting online information seeking will allow researchers to better explain and predict online user behavior and information needs. But still, more research is needed.

scholarly journals How experiences reported on intermediary information seeking from inter-disciplinary contexts can inform a study on competitive intelligence professionals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tumelo Maungwa ◽  
◽  
Ina Fourie ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Domain Knowledge ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Competitive Intelligence ◽  
Online Searching ◽  
Information Infrastructures

Introduction. Intermediary and proxy searching, where one person searches on behalf of another, are noted in information science, health sciences and library science (e.g., reference work and early day online searching), professional workplace practices (e.g., lawyers, nurses) and everyday life contexts (e.g., caregivers). It is also observed within the competitive intelligence process, which involves collecting intelligence data from business environments on behalf of senior management and clients. Many problems occur in competitive intelligence intermediary information seeking that might be addressed by examining interdisciplinary contexts. Method. Literature searches were conducted in key library and information science, health science and law databases. A total of 136 publications were manually selected and analysed for a scoping literature review. Analysis. Thematic analysis was applied. Results. Challenges emerging from the thematic analysis are disaggregated into facets of intermediary information seeking (e.g., skills in question negotiation and information needs assessment, search heuristics and knowledge of information infrastructures). Conclusion. Systematised intermediary practices (e.g., application of appropriate question negotiation techniques, expanded knowledge of information infrastructures and landscapes, competitive intelligence domain knowledge and communication) can enhance intermediary information seeking, and should be investigated in competitive intelligence.

Search Intermediary Elicitations During Mediated Online Searching

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Spink ◽  
Abby Goodrum ◽  
David Robins
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
End Users ◽  
Online Search ◽  
Online Searching ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Relevance Judgments ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Database Selection ◽  
Information Requests

What elicitations or requests for information do human search intermediaries make to patrons search with information requests that require an online search? What intermediary elicitations occur before and during an online search? Why do human search intermediaries make elicitations? This study reported in this paper investigated search intermediary elicitations during mediated online searching. A study of 40 online reference interviews involving 1557 search intermediary elicitations, found 15 different types of search intermediary elicitations to patrons. The elicitation purposes included search terms and strategies, database selection, relevance of retrieved items, and patrons' knowledge and previous information-seeking. Analysis of the patterns in the types and sequencing of elicitations showed significant strings of multiple elicitations regarding search terms and strategies, and relevance judgments. This paper discusses the implications of the findings for training search intermediaries and the design of interfaces eliciting information from end-users.

Investigating information seeking in physical and online environments with escape room and web search

2020 ◽  
pp. 016555152097228
Author(s):  
Dongho Choi ◽  
Chirag Shah ◽  
Vivek Singh
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Task Type ◽  
Eye Tracker ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Web Browser ◽  
Online Searching ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
Information Interaction ◽  
Video Recorder

Searching and interacting with information is one of the most fundamental behaviours of human beings – something that takes place in both online and physical environments. Yet, most studies of information interaction have focused on only one of these sides. This work aims to connect them by investigating one’s information interaction behaviours in different physical and online contexts as well as different types of tasks. During Web search (online searching) and Escape Room (physical searching), 31 participants’ behavioural data during web search (online searching) and escape room (physical searching) were collected through eye-tracker, web browser logs, and wearable video recorder. Analysis of the behavioural data suggests that individuals have a preferred search strategy that they adopt across different tasks and environments. The behavioural pattern, however, was found to be affected by the task type (e.g. problem searching vs exploratory search) and the way information is structured within the environments.

The influence of positive hypothesis testing on youths’ online health-related information seeking

2015 ◽  
Vol 116 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 136-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth St. Jean ◽  
Mega Subramaniam ◽  
Natalie Greene Taylor ◽  
Rebecca Follman ◽  
Christie Kodama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hypothesis Testing ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
After School ◽  
School Students ◽  
Online Searching ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health Related

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate whether/how youths’ pre-existing beliefs regarding health-related topics influence their online searching behaviors, such as their selection of keywords and search results, their credibility assessments and the conclusions they draw and the uses they make (or do not make) of the information they find. More specifically, we sought to determine whether positive hypothesis testing occurs when youth search for health information online and to ascertain the potential impacts this phenomenon can have on their search behaviors, their ability to accurately answer health-related questions and their confidence in their answers. Design/methodology/approach – An exploratory field experiment was conducted with participants in an after-school program (“HackHealth”), which aims to improve the health literacy skills and health-related self-efficacy of middle-school students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Findings – Evidence of positive hypothesis testing among the participants was found and important impacts on their search outcomes were observed. Practical implications – The paper was concluded with suggestions for improving digital literacy instruction for youth so as to counteract the potentially negative influences of positive hypothesis testing. Originality/value – This study extends existing research about positive hypothesis testing to investigate the existence and impact of this phenomenon within the context of tweens (ages 11-14) searching for health information online.

Human information seeking: Online searching of bibliographic citation networks

1982 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
William B. Rouse ◽  
Sandra H. Rouse ◽  
David R. Morehead
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Citation Networks ◽  
Online Searching ◽  
Bibliographic Citation

Foraging extends beyond food: Hoarding of mental energy and information seeking in response to uncertainty

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Alquist ◽  
Roy F. Baumeister
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Potential Outcomes ◽  
Food Hoarding

AbstractWhen an environment is uncertain, humans and other animals benefit from preparing for and attempting to predict potential outcomes. People respond to uncertainty both by conserving mental energy on tasks unrelated to the source of the uncertainty and by increasing their attentiveness to information related to the uncertainty. This mental hoarding and foraging allow people to prepare in uncertain situations.

Information-Seeking on the Internet

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod Singaravelu ◽  
Anne Stewart ◽  
Joanna Adams ◽  
Sue Simkin ◽  
Keith Hawton
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Young People ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Specific Advice ◽  
Restriction Sites ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Negative Tone

Abstract. Background: The Internet is used by young people at risk of self-harm to communicate, find information, and obtain support. Aims: We aimed to identify and analyze websites potentially accessed by these young people. Method: Six search terms, relating to self-harm/suicide and depression, were input into four search engines. Websites were analyzed for access, content/purpose, and tone. Results: In all, 314 websites were included in the analysis. Most could be accessed without restriction. Sites accessed by self-harm/suicide search terms were mostly positive or preventive in tone, whereas sites accessed by the term ways to kill yourself tended to have a negative tone. Information about self-harm methods was common with specific advice on how to self-harm in 15.8% of sites, encouragement of self-harm in 7.0%, and evocative images of self-harm/suicide in 20.7%. Advice on how to get help was given in 56.1% of sites. Conclusion: Websites relating to suicide or self-harm are easily accessed. Many sites are potentially helpful. However, a significant proportion of sites are potentially harmful through normalizing or encouraging self-harm. Enquiry regarding Internet use should be routinely included while assessing young people at risk.

The Impact of a Highly Publicized Celebrity Suicide on Suicide-Related Online Information Seeking

Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Arendt ◽  
Sebastian Scherr
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Search Queries ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Celebrity Suicide ◽  
Online Information Seeking ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Background: Research has already acknowledged the importance of the Internet in suicide prevention as search engines such as Google are increasingly used in seeking both helpful and harmful suicide-related information. Aims: We aimed to assess the impact of a highly publicized suicide by a Hollywood actor on suicide-related online information seeking. Method: We tested the impact of the highly publicized suicide of Robin Williams on volumes of suicide-related search queries. Results: Both harmful and helpful search terms increased immediately after the actor's suicide, with a substantial jump of harmful queries. Limitations: The study has limitations (e.g., possible validity threats of the query share measure, use of ambiguous search terms). Conclusion: Online suicide prevention efforts should try to increase online users' awareness of and motivation to seek help, for which Google's own helpline box could play an even more crucial role in the future.

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