Information Seeking

Burdick, Tracey A. Success and Diversity in Information Seeking: Gender and the Information Search Styles Model.

School Library Media Quarterly 25 no. 1 (Fall, 1996): 19-26.

Abstract : Study of 103 students (47 female; 56 male) at a university laboratory school who were engaged in a 5-to-8 week long research project. Assessments were made using Kuhlthau's Process Survey, Teacher's Assessment of Focus Formulation, and personal documents. Genders shared more common than divergent experience. Gender-related differences were found in topics, task perception, and affective experience. Girls were more likely to work together and more likely to ask for help. Males emphasized activity, females evidenced more reflection. No gender gap in use of computers, but males thought them more "fun". Girls chose topics about either males or females, while males chose topics only about males. Students were categorized as "Lost" (had great difficulty articulating search), "Tourists" (reasonably competent in negotiating search) or "Navigators" (well-focused and efficient in their search) depended on how well they focused their research. There were approximately equal numbers of boys and girls in each of these groups. In general the more clearly focused groups showed less gender difference than the group of students who had great difficulty with their searches.
Subject Category : Information Seeking
Research Methods : Questionnaires; interviews; qualitative research
Language : English
Keywords : Sex differences; Equity; School libraries

DeZelar-Tiedman, Christine. Known-Item Searching on the World Wide Web.

Internet Reference Services Quarterly 2 no. 1 (1997): 5-14.

Abstract : With the explosion of the World Wide Web, numerous search engines have proliferated online, claiming to be the best, fastest, or most accurate. They all provide keyword searching of the Web's millions of pages. The purpose of this paper was to discover whether known-item searches are possible with some of the Web's most popular search engines, and if the results retrieved using such a search would be satisfactory to a user. The author compared four major search engines. 39 sites were selcted and searched by title. The scores for the search results were averaged for each search engine on a scale of 0 to 5. The results ranged from 2.85 to 4.03. Author concluded that search engines were not designed for known-item searching and that many users would have difficulty in finding items for which they were searching.
Subject Category : Information Seeking
Research Methods : Experiment
Language : English
Keywords : Technology; World Wide Web

Hirsh, Sandra. Complexity of Search Tasks and Children's Information Retrieval.

In ASIS '96: Proceedings of 59th ASIS Annual Meeting, ed. by Steve Hardin. 47-51 p. 33. Baltimore MD, Oct. 19-24, 1996: 1997.

Abstract : This report is one of an ongoing series of studies on children's use of an experimental automated Science Library Catalog at the University of California Los Angeles. This paper explores the influence of several search task characteristics on children's success in finding science materials on an automated library catalog, the Science Library Catalog. Subjects were 64 fifth grade children (ages approximately 10-11) each of whom performed eight assigned searches on the Science Library Catalog. Four of the searches were on science topics and four on technology. Four of the topics were rated as simple, that is they used concrete terms that could be found in the catalog; four complex searches used more abstract terms that were not the same as the terms used in the catalog. Students were categorized as to gender and knowledge of science based on standard science tests. Children were less successful on complex searches than on simple ones. Science domain knowledge significantly influenced how successful children were in finding information. Girls performed better on science topics and boys performed better on technology topics.
Subject Category : Information Seeking
Research Methods : Experimental
Language : English
Keywords : Information Search Process; Online Information Usage
Identifer : Science Library Catalog; University of California Los Angeles

Hirsh, Sandra G.; Borgman, Christine L. Comparing Children's Use of Browsing and Keyword Searching on the Science Library Catalog.

In ASIS 95; Proceedings of 58th ASIS Annual Meeting, ed. by Tom Kinney. 19-26 p. 32 Oct. 9-12, 1995. Chicago IL: 1996.

Abstract : Part of a continuing project to study children's search behavior on an automated library catalog designed for children called the Science Library Catalog. This experiment employed an advanced version of the system which combines the browsing features of earlier versions with keyword capabilities that do not require correct spelling, searching alphabetical lists, or using Boolean logic. The purpose of the research was to discover whether the level of prior science knowledge affects children's abilities to locate science materials and does the level of prior science knowledge affect children's selection of search methods. Fifth grade students (ages 10-11) drawn from two public elementary schools were given two sessions each on the catalog and were interviewed twice. Each child performed four searches during each session. Searches could be done by keyword, by browsing, or by a combination of both. Children with higher domain knowledge were more successful in finding bibliographic records in the system regardless of the strategy they used.
Subject Category : Information Seeking
Research Methods : Experimental
Language : English
Keywords : Users; automated catalogs
Identifer : University of California Los Angeles

Kafai, Yasmin; Bates, Marcia J. Internet Web-Searching Instruction in the Elementary Classroom: Building a Foundation for Information Literacy.

School Library Media Quarterly 25 no. 2 (Winter, 1997): 103-111.

Abstract : The growing Internet accessibility for educational purposes has raised a range of issues regarding the means of integrating instruction about information access with students' other learning experiences, the nature of the skills needed by children in support of developing information literacy, and the role of the school library media specialist in this instruction. As an exploratory study, the Department of Education and the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of California Los Angeles cooperated in working with school children and their teachers. The SNAPdragon project was created to investigate how children can interface with the Internet by asking them to build an annotated directory of web sites for other children. The objective was to have children develop an understanding of what the Internet and web searching are, gain some skills in searching, and develop their critical-thinking skills by evaluating the information they gathered from various sites. Six classrooms participated in the study. Two were combined grades 1 and 2; two were combined grades 3 and 4; and the other two were grade 5 and grade 6. All classrooms had computers linked to the Internet. Each class was given one search topic. Researchers observed student efforts to answer questions such as: can children effectively use search engines? can they find appropriate resources? can they evaluate and use selected resources? UCLA graduate students were internes at the schools and worked with students in the project. Many websites were not oriented toward children; they had lots of text, big words, and few pictures. Children prefered websites with high visual content, short, simple text, animation. Children were inspired to talk about their social views when they saw sites featuring children's artwork. Children had low tolerance for long download times. All children could use the websites. Selecting good sites was difficult. Children found it difficult to evaluate sites and were reluctant to read or scan the list of result from search engines. Children had difficulty writing evaluations of sites and those under grade four were unable to do so. Children enjoyed using the Internet and delighted to see their annotations mounted on their website.
Subject Category : Information Seeking
Research Methods : Action research
Language : English
Keywords : Library Study Skills; Online information usage; technology
Identifier: Graduate School of Informatiion and Library Studies, Univ. of California Los Angeles; West Los Angeles

Latrobe, Kathy; Havener, W. Michael. The Information-Seeking Behavior of High School Honors Students: An Exploratory Study.

Journal of Youth Services in Libraries 10 no. 2 (Winter, 1997): 188-200.

Abstract : Research designed to explore students' information environments, both personal and school-related information needs. Sample consisted of 18 students in an eleventh-grade honors math class (11 male; 7 female). Both questionnaires and structured interviews were used to collect data. All students had sought course related information; 89% sought general information; 83% future plans; 67% relationships; 44% current lifestyles and 22% health. Peers, teachers and classroom instruction were the highest-ranked sources of information. Parents, books, magazines, libraries, and newspapers were each used by more than 90% of the students. People were considered the most useful sources of information for all categories except general information. Researchers conclude that librarians can promote themselves as accessible and valuable information resources.
Subject Category : Information Seeking
Research Methods : Questionnaire; Interviewing
Language : English
Keywords : Information Search Process

Minkel, Walter. The Smart Web Primer: Part I: Lost (&Found) in Cyberspace: How to Make Search Engines Work for You.

School Library Journal 40 no. 3 (March, 1997): 102-105.

Abstract : A discussion of the value of the Internet as a reference tool. Talks about the way in which information can be found: through basic search engines like AltaVista and HotBot; subject directories such as Yahoo and Magellan; and metaengines like Cyber 411. Suggests that libraries should create and maintain their own focused directories to find information frequently requested in their library. Strongly recommends that print sources be searched first before trying to use Internet resources.
Subject Category : Information Seeking
Research Methods : Informal
Language : English
Keywords : Technology, Use of; World Wide Web

Nahl, Diane; Harada, Violet H. Composing Boolean Search Statements: Self-Confidence, Concept Analysis, Search Logic, and Errors.

School Library Media Quarterly 24 no. 4 (Summer, 1996): 199-207.

Abstract : Secondary students from 6 schools participated in an experiment that tested their ability to interpret and construct search statements in a presearch activity. Students read brief instructions on concept analysis, Boolean operators, and search statement format. One group used a worksheet. A 10-item quiz tested students' knowledge of term selection and search logic and obtained self-confidence ratings. Search statements were analyzed according to a typology of search statement errors. On average, each student made two errors per search statement. students with higher self-confidence ratings had significantly higher scores on all measures. Males and females scored equally on knowledge and cognitive abilities, but females had significantly lower confidence. Students achieved overall scores averaging 60% correct raising questions about how user friendsly the databases are.
Subject Category : Information Seeking
Research Methods : Experiment
Language : English
Keywords : School libraries; Online Information Usage
Identifier: Oahu, Hawaii

Oliver, Ron; Oliver, Helen. Using Context to Promote Learning from Information-Seeking Tasks.

Journal of the American Society for Information Science 48 no. 6 (June, 1997): 519-526.

Abstract : Children in schools frequently engage in information-seeking tasks either for personal interest or as part of some instructional activity. In most instances, an assumed and implicit purpose of the information seeking is that some form of learning will occur. But this is not necessarily the case. Research into the use of electronic information sources has demonstrated that while students can demonstrate successful information retrieval skills and strategies, they can often fail to learn and retain the information and knowledge with which they have been engaged. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that information-seeking activities based on contextual and social purposes would lead to higher levels of knowledge acquisition and learning than those achieved through activities where the purpose and context was absent. The subjects for the study were 11 and 12-year-old children from upper primary grades in a metropolitan Western Australian school. Classes were selected on the basis of high levels of computing experience. The stucy was conducted across 20 weeks with each class participating in a 10-week block. Two environmental topics were investigated: Global Warming or the depletion of the Ozone Layer. In the Control Group the students sought information in response to a learning task with set questions leading to a report. The Experimental Group sought information in response to a problem setting and learning environment-- they were asked to prepare a booklet informing other students how the school could help to counteract the environmental problem studied. At the conclusion of the study the students' reports were marked by researchers according to the quality of information retrieved. The Control Group outscored the Experimental group in the scores received. Many inaccuracies and misconceptions were found in the reports. The researchers concluded that the students would have learned more from formal teaching than from independent study. Each student was also given a pre-and post-test of the subjectcontent. The Experimental Group had significantly higher achievement gains. The subgroups of knowledge achievement and comprehension achievement were also significantly higher for the Experimental Group. The results provide support for the hypothesis that information-seeking activities based on contextual and social purposes can lead to higher levels of knowledge acquisition and learning than those achieved through activities where purpose and context are absent. Futher research needs to be done to investigate the degree to which independent information-seeking leads to increased comprehension.
Subject Category : Information Seeking
Research Methods : Experimental
Language : English
Keywords : CD-ROMs
Identifier: Dept. of Library and Information Science, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia