Unique Internet Search Strategies of Individuals With Self-Stated Autism: Quantitative Analysis of Search Engine Users' Investigative Behaviors.

Eldad Yechiam,Elad Yom-Tov

doi:10.2196/23829

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough autism is often characterized in literature by the presence of repetitive behavior, in structured decision tasks, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to examine more options in a given time period than controls.ObjectiveWe aimed to examine whether this investigative tendency emerges in information searches conducted via the internet.MethodsIn total, 1746 search engine users stated that they had ASD in 2019. This group’s naturally occurring responses following 1491 unique general queries and 78 image queries were compared to those of all other users of the search engine. The main dependent measure was scrolled distance, which denoted the extent to which additional results were scanned beyond the initial results presented on-screen. Additionally, we examined the number of clicks on search results as an indicator of the degree of search outcome exploitation and assessed whether there was a trade-off between increased search range and the time invested in viewing initial search results.ResultsAfter issuing general queries, individuals with self-stated ASD scanned more results than controls. The scrolled distance in the results page of general queries was 45% larger for the group of individuals with ASD (P<.001; d=0.45). The group of individuals with ASD also made the first scroll faster than the controls (P<.001; d=0.51). The differences in scrolled distance were larger for popular queries. No group differences in scrolled distance emerged for image queries, suggesting that visual load impeded the investigative behavior of individuals with ASD. No differences emerged in the number of clicks on search results.ConclusionsIndividuals who self-stated that they had ASD scrutinized more general search results and fewer image search results than the controls. Thus, our results at least partially support the notion that individuals with ASD exhibit investigative behaviors and suggest that textual searches are an important context for expressing such tendencies.

Highlights

Characterizing the internet browsing style of specific populations is important for understanding how individuals behave during naturally occurring circumstances and can be used for tailoring interfaces and content to people’s diverse styles and capabilities [1,2]
Individuals who self-stated that they had autism spectrum disorder (ASD) scrutinized more general search results and fewer image search results than the controls
This paper focuses on the internet search strategies of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—a heterogeneous condition characterized by restricted interests and behaviors and by deficits in social communication

Summary

Introduction

Characterizing the internet browsing style of specific populations is important for understanding how individuals behave during naturally occurring circumstances and can be used for tailoring interfaces and content to people’s diverse styles and capabilities [1,2]. This paper focuses on the internet search strategies of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—a heterogeneous condition characterized by restricted interests and behaviors and by deficits in social communication. Laboratory studies have discovered that high-functioning individuals with ASD tend to make selections from assorted options in a relatively short period of time [3,4,5,6,7]. We analyze data from a large-scale data set and examine whether the heightened propensity for investigation in individuals with ASD emerges when they search for information on the web. Autism is often characterized in literature by the presence of repetitive behavior, in structured decision tasks, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to examine more options in a given time period than controls

Methods

Results

Conclusion