A survey on information re-finding techniques

an article by Tangjian Deng and Ling Feng (Tsinghua University, Beijing) published in International Journal of Web Information Systems Volume 7 Issue 4 (2011)

Abstract

Purpose
Observing that people re-access what they have seen or used in the past is very common in real lives. The purpose of this paper is to review the subject of information re-finding comprehensively, and introduce to readers the underlying techniques and mechanisms used in information re-finding.
Design/methodology/approach
After analysing users’ information re-finding behaviours and their requirements, the paper studies the natural way of re-finding in human memory, and reviews state-of-the-art techniques and tools developed in the fields of web and personal information management for information re-finding.
Findings
Four main re-finding support techniques on the Web are:

• re-finding tools in Web browsers; 
• history service; 
• re-finding search engine; and 
• voice-based re-finding.

Three main re-finding approaches are used in PIM: browse-based approaches; content-based search; and context-based search.
Practical implications
Following the recalling mechanisms in human memory, the method of recall-by-context in both fields of web usage and personal information management can make users feel easy to re-find information.
Originality/value
The paper gives a comprehensive overview of information re-finding techniques.

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Why SweetSearch is the best search engine for students

via The findingDulcinea Blog by findingDulcinea Staff


SweetSearch is the product of 100,000+ hours of research that went into creating findingDulcinea's 700+ Web Guides and thousands of news and feature articles. This trove of content links to tens of thousands of Web sites that have been evaluated and deemed reliable by our research experts and librarian and teacher consultants.


Please read the blog post for yourself (from February this year) and then, of course, try out the search engine.


Hazel’s comment:
Not to use for the trivial or lifestyle search but for scholarly articles that have an academic/authoritative source and can safely be cited in your essay or dissertation. You need to be aware that SweetSearch is from an American organisation and, perhaps, adapt your findings accordingly.

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Interactive visualization for opportunistic exploration of large document collections

an article by Simon Lehmann, Ulrich Schwanecke and Ralf Dörner (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Wiesbaden) published in Information Systems Volume 35 Issue 2 (April 2009)

Abstract
Finding relevant information in a large and comprehensive collection of cross-referenced documents like Wikipedia usually requires a quite accurate idea where to look for the pieces of data being sought. A user might not yet have enough domain-specific knowledge to form a precise search query to get the desired result on the first try. Another problem arises from the usually highly cross-referenced structure of such document collections. When researching a subject, users usually follow some references to get additional information not covered by a single document. With each document, more opportunities to navigate are added and the structure and relations of the visited documents gets harder to understand.
This paper describes the interactive visualisation Wivi which enables users to intuitively navigate Wikipedia by visualising the structure of visited articles and emphasising relevant other topics. Combining this visualisation with a view of the current article results in a custom browser specially adapted for exploring large information networks. By visualising the potential paths that could be taken, users are invited to read up on subjects relevant to the current point of focus and thus opportunistically finding relevant information. Results from a user study indicate that this visual navigation can be easily used and understood. A majority of the participants of the study stated that this method of exploration supports them finding information in Wikipedia.

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An integrative model of “information visibility” and “information seeking” on the web

an article by Yazdan Mansourian, Nigel Ford, Sheila Webber and Andrew Madden in Program: electronic library and information systems Volume 42 Issue 4 (2008)

Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to encapsulate the main procedure and key findings of a qualitative research on end-users' interactions with web-based search tools in order to demonstrate how the concept of “information visibility” emerged and how an integrative model of information visibility and information seeking on the web was constructed.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was formed of three parts. The first looked at conceptions of the Invisible Web; the second explored conceptualisations of the causes of search success/failure; the third organised the findings of parts 1 and 2 into a series of theoretical frameworks. Data collection was carried out in three phases based on interviews with a sample of biologists.
Findings
The first part led to the development of a model of information visibility which suggests a complementary definition for the Invisible Web. The results also showed the participants were aware of the possibility that they had missed some relevant information in their searches. However, perceptions of the importance and the volume of missed information varied, so users reacted differently to the possibility that they were missing information. The third part indicated the “Locus of Control” and “Attribution Theory” that can help us to better understand web-based information seeking patterns. Moreover, “Bounded Rationality” and “Satisficing Theory” supported the inductive findings and showed that users' estimates of the likely volume and importance of missed information affect their decision to persist in searching.
Research limitations/implications
The study creates new understanding of web users' information seeking behaviour which contributes to the theoretical basis of web search research. It also raises various questions within the context of library and information science practice to know whether, and if so how, we can assist end-users to develop more efficient search strategies and satisfactory approaches.
Originality/value
The research adopted a combination of inductive-deductive methods with a qualitative approach in the area of information seeking on the web which is mainly dominated by quantitative studies.


Hazel's comment:
I don't know about the other authors but you can keep up with Sheila's doings from her blogs on information literacy and working, teaching and living in Second Life.

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Ask.com slashes jobs and changes focus

from LibrarianInBlack by Sarah Houghton-Jan

Ask.com has cut 40 jobs, including the beloved and talented Gary Price, in its reorganization and attempt to develop a new "strategy." You can read more in Gary's post on ResourceShelf, the Wall Street Journal article, the Reuters story, or a most interesting reaction from Search Engine Roundtable to new "strategy" of focusing their efforts on women over 30 and health and entertainment info. Can we say "tiny slice o' the market"? The sense in the search world in general is that this new direction (job cuts aside) is not a good one.

I am personally very disappointed, not only because I consider Gary a close friend and colleague, but because I rely on Ask.com for all of my searching. I teach it in my classes. I promote it on my blog when awesome features are introduced. The results are better, better-presented, and better-organized from a research standpoint - which is what library staff are usually using a search engine for. If it changes from what it is, and doesn't offer me what I need as an educational searcher, then I'll be in search of another engine to meet my needs. Let's wait and see what happens.

Comment

Please, Sarah, forgive me re-producing the whole of your post from earlier this month. In mitigation I offer the fact that it was the best one on this story which appeared in a lot of different places, including the ones you have provided links for above. It may not be a disaster but it sure feels like one to a large number of librarians and information managers!

I am personally not with Sarah on relying on Ask.com for all of my searching but that is because I am usually looking for something that I know exists e.g. the title of an article. When I'm researching something new then it's Ask.com, Yahoo! Answers or Exalead -- possibly all three and maybe others until I'm sure that I've got an answer to the question or, the more difficult issue, that an answer does not exist.