Information Seeking Process

Abstract: Knowledge is a critical resource that sustains strategic advantage in highly competitive organizational environments. Many organizations are turning to knowledge management (KM) initiatives and technologies to leverage their knowledge resources. A common form of such technologies is the electronic knowledge repository (EKR). Although EKRs have been in use for some time, there has been little empirical evidence about factors that affect usage of EKRs. This exploratory study formulates and tests a theoretical model that explains seeking behavior in an EKR. The data was collected through a survey of 128 knowledge workers. Results show that technology-related factors and organization-related factors directly impact seeking behavior, while task factors play a moderating role. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

 Information Seeking Process;  Knowledge Seeking;  

Abstract: The article discusses the users' perspective of information seeking. A model of the information search process is presented derived from a series of five studies investigating common experiences of users in information seeking situations. The cognitive and affective aspects of the process of information seeking suggest a gap between the users' natural process of information use and the information system and intermediaries' traditional patterns of information provision. © 1991 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

 information overload;  Cognitive Learning Theories;  Information Seeking Process;  Information Need;  Personal Construct Theory;  

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Abstract: Many users of online and other automated information systems want to take advantage of the speed and power of automated retrieval, while still controlling and directing the steps of the search themselves. They do not want the system to take over and carry out the search entirely for them. Yet the objective of much of current theory and experimentation in information retrieval systems and interfaces is to design systems in which the user has either no or only reactive involvement with the search process. It is argued here that the advanced information retrieval research community is missing an opportunity to design systems that are in better harmony with the actual preferences of many users--sophisticated systems that provide an optimal combination of searcher control and system retrieval power. The user may be provided effective means of directing the search if capabilities specific to the information retrieval process, that is, strategic behaviors normally associated with information searching, are incorporated into the interface. There are many questions concerning 1) the degree of user vs. system involvement in the search, and 2) the size, or chunking, of activities, that is, how much and what type of activity the user should be able to direct the system to do at once. These two dimensions are analyzed and a number of configurations of system capability that combine user and system control are presented and discussed. In the process, the concept of the information search stratagem is introduced, and particular attention is paid to the provision of strategic, as opposed to purely procedural capabilities for the searcher. Finally, certain of the types of user-system relationship are selected as deserving particular attention in future information retrieval system design, and arguments are made to support the recommendations.

 Information Seeking Process;  

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