Information in the Digital EnvironmentInformation Seeking Models

Dr. Dania BilalIS 530Spring 2006

Information Options

Print Databases

CD-ROM Web-based Command-driven (e.g., Dialog)

Web-based interface Text-based interface

Print Option

Periodical indexes Most are inexpensive

Subscription Owned by library Easily accessible One user per one volume/section used Citations to magazine & journal articles Update

CD-ROM Databases

Subscription Need for software & hardware Cost varies Ease of use varies Updates

CD-ROM Databases

High storage (650 mg to over a gigabyte) 650 mg equivalent to 250,000 pages of

text or 1 million catalog records Can be loaded on stand-alone or

networked computers. Site license is needed

Command-Driven Databases

Search skills User information need

Search topic negotiation Up-to-date Access to >100s of databases Cost varies with database Web- and text-based interfaces

Information Retrieval System (IR)

A set of components that interact to provide feedback

Comprised of interlinked entities Agency that creates the databases People Documents

Interlinked Entities

Agency

Documents

People

The IR Cycle

Documents are analyzed, translated, indexed, and stored.

Documents are organized Cataloging (description/representation of

docs.) Subject indexing

The IR Cycle

Subject indexinga) Determination of subject content

(conceptual analysis)b) Translation of content into language of

the system (controlled vocabulary)c) Abstracting

The IR Cycle

Language of the system (controlled vocabulary) List of subject headings (Pre-coordinate) Thesauri (Pre-coordinate) Classification scheme

The IR Cycle

Documents are represented by other entities Author(s) Date of publication Language Identifiers

The IR Cycle

Entities may become access points Documents are stored after indexing Document representation is entered

into the matching mechanism

The IR Cycle

A file of document surrogates is established

File becomes available for searching using a variety of access points

The IR Cycle

User Query Analyzed for conceptual content Translated into the language of the

system (matched against controlled vocabulary and keywords)

Matched against document surrogates in the database

Explanation of the IR Cycle

Output A set of records found and deemed

relevant to a user query User judgment of retrieval

The IR Cycle

User Judgment

Relevance to information need Relevance ranking by IR system Relevance vs. pertinence

Document-Based IRs

Input, output, and matching mechanisms

Selection of documents (done by indexers)

Analysis of documents (done by indexers)

Document-Based IRs

Document representation (done by indexers)

Analysis of user query (done by system)

Matching user query with relevant documents (done by system)

Delivery of documents (output)

Information Seeking

Information Seeking

Process of finding information to fill a knowledge gap

User requests Known item searches Unknown item searches Subject

searches

Information Seeking Models Ellis’ Behavioral Model Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process Model Nahl’s ACS Model Marchionini’s Information Process Model Wilson’s Problem-Solving Model Belkin’s Information Seeking Strategies (ISS) Belkin’s Anomalous State of Knowledge (ASK) Dervin’s sense-making theory

Ellis’ Behavioral Model

Describes 8 information seeking patterns of social scientists, physical scientists, and engineers in using hypertext (e.g., the Web) Starting (Surveying), Chaining, Monitoring,

Browsing, Differentiating (Distinguishing), Filtering, Extracting, Verifying, Ending.

Kuhlthau’s ISP Model

Information search process from the user’s perspective in traditional environment

Affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor Six stages:

Initiation, Selection, Exploration, Formulation, Collection, Presentation

Nahl’s ACS Model

Taxonomic approach for identifying the levels of information seeking behaviors

Searcher’s feeling (A), thinking (C), and doing (S) is termed “information behavior”

Levels are sequential and continuous

Marchionini’s Model

Problem solving approach to understanding information seeking process in the electronic environment

Eight processes: Problem recognition, Problem definition,

Selection of system/source, Problem articulation (query formulation), Search execution, Examination of results, Extraction of desired information; Reflection, Iteration, and Stopping of search process

Wilson’s Problem-Solving Model

Goal-directed behavior of problem solving From uncertainty to certainty through

the problem-resolution process: Problem identification, Problem

definition, Problem resolution, Solution statement (has affective dimensions)

Stages are sequential and non-linear

Belkin’s ISS Model

Task-oriented with 4 sets of tasks: Browsing: scanning or searching a resource Learning: expanding knowledge of goal,

problem, & system used Recognition: identifying relevant items Meta information: interaction with items that

map the boundaries of the task

Dynamic process

Belkin’s ASK Theory

ASK (Anomalous State of Knowledge) “The cognitive and situational aspects that were the reason for seeking information and approaching an IR system” (Saracevic, 1996).

Knowledge gap (anomaly) and the need to solve it

Implications for system design

Dervin and Sense-making

A need to make sense of the world or a current situation

A state that arises within a person, suggesting some kind of gap that requires filling.

Gap is filled by information

Dervin’s Sense-making A search starts with questions

directed at making sense of a current situation.

Communication is central to “bridge a knowledge gap.”

Strategies used are shaped by the user’s conceptualization of both the gap and the bridge, and by answers, ideas, and resources obtained.

Dervin’s Sense-making

Affective states (emotions, feelings, attitudes, etc.) are as vital as cognition.

Anxiety and uncertainty are reduced as the gap becomes smaller.

Dervin’s Sense-Making Metaphor

Questions answeredIdeas formedResources obtained

Situation Gap BridgedUses

(Helps)

Strategies used

Gap Faced

Barrier Faced