OrgBox

Abstract

Current search systems are effective in helping users complete simple search tasks (e.g., fact-finding). However, they provide less support for users completing complex search tasks. Complex search tasks involve a diverse set of cognitive and metacognitive activities, such as goal-setting, organizing information, drawing inferences, monitoring progress, and updating mental models. We report on a lab study (N=32) that investigated the uses and influences of a novel knowledge representation tool called the OrgBox'', developed to support searchers with complex tasks. The OrgBox was integrated into a custom-built search system and allowed participants to save information by drag-and-dropping textual passages into the tool, organize passages into boxes'', and make notes on passages and boxes. The OrgBox tool was compared to a baseline tool (the Bookmark'') that allowed participants to save passages, but not organize them nor make notes. We investigate four research questions. In RQ1, we investigate the effects of the knowledge representation tool on participants' post-task perceptions. In RQ2-RQ4, we investigate: (RQ2) how participants used different features of each tool; (RQ3) the perceived benefits and challenges of each tool; and (RQ4) the influences of each tool on the approaches taken by participants to complete the task. To address RQ2-RQ4, we conducted a qualitative analysis of participants' responses during an exit interview. We discuss implications from our results for designing tools to support users with complex search tasks.