1. Lecture 3 / Chapter 3 User Needs and Behavior Bob Griffin - IMD290 Information Architecture

2. User Needs and Behaviors Users have specific needs and therefore exhibit specific behaviors in satisfying those needs (specific information seeking behaviors) Goal = satisfying user’s needs Searching is a different thing than browsing Users don’t always know exactly what they want “Too Simple” model is not realistic, yet many websites assume this

3. “Too Simple Model”

4. There’s more to it…

5. Information Needs The Perfect Catch / Known- item Seeking User knows exactly what they want The Lobster Trap / Exploratory Seeking User looking to learn as much as they can through searching and browsing in an open-ended manner Drift-netting / Exhaustive Research User looking to find EVERYTHING they possibly can on a subject No stone left unturned Sometimes the user knows what the right answer is and is verifying it or checking Sometimes the user is looking for more than one answer, “I need to know about The Lewis and Clarke Expedition…” Sometimes the user wants everything there possibly is to know about the subject Like doctoral thesis, white paper research, intelligence analysis, ego

6. A Search Process Searching, browsing and asking Integration and iteration (note) 1 3 4 2 5

7. “Berrypicking” A realistic model must be proposed as to how people really do search for information, and therefore to devise ways to build databases and create interface designs to better support that model. For a very long time, the classic view of information retrieval has been statically used This model says that a document is searched for and when found, matches and the information need is complete The “Berrypicking” Model (author = Dr. Marcia Bates) states that this is outdated

8. “Berrypicking” The “Berrypicking” Model States: oTypical search queries are not static oSearchers commonly gather information in bits and pieces instead of one grand best retrieved data set oSearchers use a wide variety of techniques that extend beyond those associated with bibliographic databases oSearchers use a wude variety of SOURCES other than bibliographic databases A half dozen typical search routines are suggested as the likely candidates for optimal berrypicking: oFootnote chasing, citation searching, journal run, area scanning, abstract and index search, author search

9. “Berrypicking” 1. Footnote Chasing (description): (a.k.a.Backward Chasing) Follow-up on footnotes found in books and articles, moving backward in successive steps through reference lists to find more information Footnote Chasing (design suggestion): The search interface should allow the user easy browse capability between the book/article and the reference list --- the design should not impede this process Key design feature: Direct manipulation with mouse and pull-down menus; back and forth _____________________ 2. Citation searching (description): (a.k.a. Forward Chasing) Begin with a citation, find out who cites it (look up in the citation index) thus leap forward. Citation Searching (design suggestion): The search should include a set of references that cite a given subject, or read any of the citing articles. Key design feature: Users should have the ability to scan lists of citing refs; make simple single jumps between full text articles or full list of refs in citing articles

10. “Berrypicking” 3. Journal Run (description): This technique states that the core journals in a subject area are going to have a high “hit rate” of relevant material Journal Run (key design feature & suggestion): The search should allow easy spec of journal titles with starting dates; easy jumps between content lists and articles; capability of requesting further granular info if needed _____________________ 4. Area Scanning (description): Browsing materials nearby (this is a physical library search) where your search originally led you is a very popular way to do research. Multiple research states this is an important search technique. (Serendipity) Area Scanning (design suggestion): The metaphor comes into play here, with a physical book shelf design on the screen, and an Amazon “read the page” design to investigate further Key design feature: 1) library listing arranged by classification (Dewey Decimal); 2) browsing at several levels of the classification; 3) user should be able to ask for “snapshots” of book shelves for future reference or should be able to go back to the search (saved searches)

11. “Berrypicking” 5. Abstract & Indexing (description): This technique is basically a subject search in a bibliography. Both classified arrangements and subject indexes are popular. A & I (key design feature & suggestion): 1) User should have the capability of rapid browsing of many references without cost and/or ability of being able to see every nth reference in a large set _____________________ 6. Author Searching (description): This is a “known item” search which may turn up unexpected results, but can be an important part of browsing when a user searches to see if the author has done any other work on the retrieved work Author Searching (key design suggestions): 1) Calling up bibliographies of authors’ works’ ; 2) “Snapshots” of the text of works; 3) Features that enable footnote chasing and citation searching (Numbers 1 & 2 above)