What Information Are Researchers Looking for? Patterns of users’ Information Needs in CIDOC CRM

Abstract

Ontologies such as CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM) aim to provide support for reuse, interoperability and advanced search in data through implementation of semantically rich data models. Such models, however, tend to produce complex data with a granularity that can be far from how end users conceptualize a domain. This study, using a qualitative field-research method and a naturalistic approach, aims to explore the information needs of users and how this aligns with CIDOC CRM entities. Main result is a set of ontology patterns describing a range of information needs. Such patterns can guide the implementation of ontology-based information systems.