Information Search Activities Research Articles

Using internal link and social network analysis to support searches in Wikipedia: A model and its evaluation

Wikipedia, the largest multilingual free content online encyclopaedia, is the result of collaboration by countless volunteers around the world. Because of the popularity of such applications, one of the most important issues is how to alleviate information overload on the world wide web and thereby facilitate effective information search activities. Basically, Wikipedia users browse content by following hyperlinks, or they use the search function to look for information. Traditional methods cannot represent all the relationships between hypertexts; thus, users can easily change their search goals unconsciously or get lost when they explore or retrieve information. To address the above problem, we propose a link strength measure that establishes a network by analysing the internal links between articles in Wikipedia. We then apply social network analysis indicators to label the relationships between articles and identify topics to help users find required information. Based on the proposed methods, we developed an application called WikiMap. To assess its effectiveness, we conducted a task-oriented evaluation study with 28 participants who were asked to execute simulated search tasks on two interfaces: the standard Wikipedia interface and the proposed WikiMap interface. The evaluation results show that participants were more successful in executing the assigned tasks on the WikiMap interface, especially unfamiliar decision-making tasks. The exploratory research results have implications for the design of search-aided applications to help users find information in Wikipedia.

Need for cognition and active information search in small student groups

In a sample of 213 students organized in 44 groups this study tests the impact of need for cognition on active information search by using a multilevel analysis. The results show that group members with high need for cognition seek more advice in task related issues than those with low need for cognition and this pattern of information exchange is stronger for different gender social interaction than with the same gender social interaction.

The interface between health systems and vertical programmes in Francophone Africa: the managers’ perceptions

To explores the interface between vertical programmes (VPs) and general health services (GHS) in sub-Saharan Africa. Using semi-structured interviews, we analysed the perceptions of a selection of experienced mid-level managers of health systems and of VP originating in francophone Africa on the nature and quality of this interface. The respondents acknowledged that VPs lead to both positive and negative effects on the functioning of GHS. The overall result, however, cannot be viewed as a simple summation of the positive effects possibly compensating for the negative ones. Indeed, some of the negative effects have a profound impact on the management and operation of the health care delivery system and may undermine the long-term institutional capacity of the general health systems. The quality and the nature of the interface between VP and GHS strongly vary in time, between settings and programmes. We argue for more systematic monitoring of the interface between VP and GHS, so as to identify and address, in a timely manner, significant disruptive effects and deficiencies in a perspective of systemic capacity building of health systems.

인터넷 패션쇼핑몰의 반품요인에 따른 소비자 불평행동과 정보탐색행동에 관한 연구

This study is to find return factors when modern consumers purchase goods from an internet shopping mall and then to analyze the characteristics of complaints act and information search behavior. Subjects of research are 245 men and women, who have experience with more than one return in internet fashion shopping mall, in their twenties. The data were analyzed by using Factor analysis, Cronbach's analysis, one-way ANOVA, Duncan test as a post identification, Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. The results of this study are that male and female consumers in their 20s are mainly aware of the return factors: impulse buying, product status, deliver service, service after purchase, hype and comfortableness. And complains behavior often conduct public action, private action, nonaction. Information search behaviors for risk reduction when they purchase are product comparison, oral information search, neutral marketing information search, and service information search. The return factor from the internet fashion shopping had the greatest impact on public action and deliver services factor was a big complaint. In addition, impulse buying & Hype affect private action and non-action is influenced by impulse purchase. The consumer types by the return factors in internet fashion shopping mall are classified into the return group by deliver service, the return group by complex factors, and the return group by product status. Furthermore, there are significant differences in complaining behavior among these groups. In the information search behavior for reduction of risk factors, the return group by complex factors did more active information search behavior than the other groups. The return group by deliver service searched oral information and the return group by product status explored the neutral marketing information.

Cost and Benefit of Information Search using Two Different Strategies

Searching for information is one major Internet activities during which information seekers may gain benefit as well as incurred some cost. In general, information seekers seldom employ any search strategy for general browsing to explore information space. On the other hand, in certain situation, they may employ certain search strategy, especially those who engage in a fact-finding activity. The objective of this research is to shed light on how search strategy can be used to gain the maximum benefit of information search activities. It borrows the two-factor theory to group Web design elements into benefit and cost manifested as motivating and hygiene factors. This research employed a laboratory experiment with 235 respondents who were participated on this research voluntarily. Respondents were divided into two groups, namely ‘plan-group’ and ‘unplan-group’. Both groups were given certain tasks related to information search. The experiment was followed by a post experiment survey. The result shows that respondents who were in the ‘plan-group’ perceived less benefit and incurred more cost compared to those in the ‘unplan-group’. The future research is proposed at the end of this manuscript.

Understanding the integrative approach to conflict management

PurposeIntegration is an active search for information about facts and interests – motivated by a willingness to find mutually satisfactory agreements – and is usually necessary for creating high quality settlements in conflicts. The purpose of this paper is to examine the integrative approach to conflicts.Design/methodology/approachSurveys, scenario studies, and experiments were used to explore factors relating to an integrative approach. First, how integration affected various outcome qualities (Study 1 and Study 2) was examined. Then Studies 3, 4 and 5, respectively, examined how integration was influenced by demographic (gender and education), individual (achievement motivation, creativity, and cognitive style), and relational (quality of the relationship) factors.FindingsResults demonstrated that an integrative approach is beneficial for various outcome‐dimensions (quality, satisfaction, fairness, and trust). Regarding predictors of an integrative approach, being male business students are negatively related to integration, while having high achievement motivation and a good relationship are positively related.Research limitations/implicationsThe correlational design in some of the studies make conclusions about causality questionable, and future research should examine the dynamic conflict process in more detail.Practical implicationsIt is helpful to know that taking an integrative approach favours all types of outcomes in conflict management processes, and that high achievement motivation and a good relationship stimulate an integrative approach.Originality/valueThe paper shows how different variables relate to an integrative approach and offers insight to those involved in conflict management processes.

Caracterización de los casos de tuberculosis en población autóctona y extranjera de Guipúzcoa en el período 2003–2007

Objective To describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of tuberculosis cases registered in Guipúzcoa and their management and to investigate possible differences depending on the country of origin of affected individuals. Material and methods We performed a population-based descriptive analysis of cases diagnosed from 2003 to 2007. Cases were drawn from the surveillance system, which incorporates an active information search in distinct sources. Incidences were calculated with the populations obtained from the Basque Institute of Statistics and the Ikuspegi-Basque Immigration Observatory. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare means. Results A total of 903 cases were registered, of which 94 corresponded to foreigners. During the study period, the mean incidence per 100,000 inhabitants was 86.3 for foreigners and 24.4 for native-born residents. No significant differences were found by gender, prior treatment, diagnostic delay, the microbiological tests performed or their results. Differences were found in age (foreigners were younger), contact tracing recommendation and its completion (less frequent in foreigners), treatment adherence (worse among foreigners), site of infection (more common in lymph nodes in foreigners) and risk factors (fewer chronic diseases in foreigners). Conclusions Foreigners with tuberculosis were younger and had fewer chronic diseases than native-born individuals with tuberculosis. Study of contacts and treatment adherence were less successful among foreigners. Providing the most suitable care for each patients is essential.

The importance of usability in product choice: A mobile phone case study

Usability has become established as an important aspect of product design. This paper describes an investigation that was carried out to identify the importance of usability in product choice related to other product attributes. Interviews were initially carried out to identify possible attributes that contribute to product choice. Experiments were then undertaken using the methods of active information search, structured preference elicitation, ranking and interviews in order to find out what attributes were important to people when choosing an example product – mobile phones. It was found that usability is indeed important in product choice but perhaps not as much as users themselves believe. Other attributes that were found to be more important were features, aesthetics and cost. The process of product choice was found to be complex and it may be the case that people have come to expect usability in their products. Further research is needed to understand more fully the changing role of usability in product choice and to further improve the quality of the user–product relationship.

Factors affecting the Internet behaviour of horticultural growers in Flanders, Belgium

Horticultural growers in Flanders make low use of the Internet. The Internet applications used most frequently are online banking, information on market prices and yields of outputs, and weather forecasts. However, a large variation of the Internet behaviour is observed among the growers. The influence of personal characteristics (biographical and social characteristics, communication behaviour) and business size is examined on the use of five groups of Internet applications: general applications, basic management information, specialised management information, information on output prices and yields, and e-commerce. Data were collected at 163 horticultural businesses with Internet use for business purposes. Categorical principal component analysis of the explaining variables resulted in five dimensions. “Openness and active search for information” shows a significantly positive influence for all examined Internet applications, except for e-commerce. “Long-term perspectives of the business” is found to have a significantly positive influence on the use of general applications and e-commerce. E-commerce is also significantly influenced by the “attitude towards risks and environmentally friendly production techniques” and “agricultural or horticultural education, supplemented by additional courses”. “Larger businesses with the search for specific advice” is a dimension with a significantly positive effect on the use of specialised management information and e-commerce. For many Internet applications the personal attitudes of the business manager seem to be important, suggesting that developing human capital is crucial to increase the speed and coverage of Internet adoption.

Information Research in Leisure: Implications from an Empirical Study of Backpackers

In the modern, increasingly flat world, many individuals have seen an increase in the amount of leisure time they have available. This leisure time is used for different purposes, often including travel and tourism. Among the many types of travel and tourism, backpack or budget travelling is becoming more and more popular. This increasingly common leisure activity presumably involves intensive information search activities. This study places the backpackers' search for travel information in an everyday life information seeking (ELIS) perspective. The search for information by backpackers can be seen as a three-stage information search process. In each stage, depending on the type of task, backpackers use various information resources for different purposes. Such sources may be used for more than one purpose and in more than one information search stage. However, their relative importance varies depending on the characteristics of the source of information and the information search stage in which the source is being used. In this article I suggest that studies of leisure information behaviors and leisure activities show theoretical and practical value for both the information seeking public and the information science community. We also suggest that library and information science scholars and practice communities direct attention and research resources to leisure research in general, and the concept of serious leisure and its structured information acquisition and sharing activities in particular.

Making Good Sense: Assessing the Quality of Risky Decision-making

How good are managers at making risky decisions? Recent research has identified this gap in decision-making research; this paper attempts to address this question in the context of risky decision-making. Following a review of the behavioural decision-making and sensemaking schools of research on risky decision-making, a research methodology is presented which is derived from a critique of the former school to address limitations of the research of the latter school. A combination of active information search and cognitive mapping was deployed to assess the performance of 45 project managers in identifying project risks. The findings show that some managers perform better than others at this type of decision-making due to the differences in the ways in which they tackle the problem. The concluding discussion argues that the two schools are more complementary than antithetical.

The Effect of Online Information Search on Image Development

This study explores the potential effects of online information search on tourists' destination image development. Specifically, the terms baseline image and enhanced image are proposed to distinguish the different stages of image development in tourists' minds before and after active online information search. A mixed-methods study, which asked college students to develop a one-week travel plan in China via online search, was designed. Results show that participants' overall image and affective image about China experienced significant and positive changes after online search, while cognitive image basically remained the same. Nevertheless, when asked to describe their image changes, most participants reported changes regarding their cognitive beliefs about China. Furthermore, the qualitative data evidenced the interaction between participants' online information search process and image development.

The effect of earnings surprises on information asymmetry

We examine the effect of earnings surprises on changes in information asymmetry. We hypothesize and find that asymmetry is lower (higher) in the quarter following positive (negative) earnings surprises compared to firms that meet the consensus analyst earnings forecast. The relations between earnings surprises and information asymmetry are stronger when the surprises are more likely to capture investors’ attention. Examining the source of these changes, we show that decreased information search activities is the most important factor for asymmetry declining after positive surprises; for negative surprises, decreased uninformed trading plays a dominant role increasing asymmetry.

Identifying decision strategies in a consumer choice situation

AbstractIn two studies on mobile phone purchase decisions, we investigated consumers’ decision strategies with a newly developed process tracing tool calledInterActive Process Tracing(IAPT). This tool is a combination of several process tracing techniques (Active Information Search, Mouselab, and retrospective verbal protocol). After repeatedly choosing one of four mobile phones, participants formalized their strategy so that it could be used to make choices for them. The choices made by the identified strategies correctly predicted the observed choices in 73% (Experiment 1) and 67% (Experiment 2) of the cases. Moreover, in Experiment 2 we directly compared Mouselab and eye tracking with respect to their impact on information search and strategy description. We found only minor differences between these two methods. We conclude that IAPT is a useful research tool to identify choice strategies, and that using eye tracking technology did not increase its validity beyond that gained with Mouselab.

Successful or unsuccessful search for risk defusing operators: Effects on decision behaviour

In experiments with quasi-realistic risky scenarios instead of gambles, decision makers are less interested in probability information. Often, they actively search for a risk defusing operator (RDO; an action to be performed in addition to a specific alternative and expected to decrease the risk involved). Examples in daily life are insurance and vaccination. In our experiment, the central independent variable was the successful or unsuccessful RDO search. The central dependent variables were choices and information search behaviour. In order to get information about the applied heuristics, a concurrent Thinking Aloud procedure was employed in addition to the method of Active Information Search. Eighty subjects made a choice in two risky scenarios. The findings confirm that the successful search for an RDO for one of the alternatives is an excellent predictor of choice. If the subject does not search for an RDO or the search is unsuccessful, MAXIMIN was the most frequent heuristic.

Predictors of Diagnostic Accuracy and Safe Management in Difficult Diagnostic Problems in Family Medicine

To investigate the role of information gathering and clinical experience on the diagnosis and management of difficult diagnostic problems in family medicine. Seven diagnostic scenarios including 1 to 4 predetermined features of difficulty were constructed and presented on a computer to 84 physicians: 21 residents in family medicine, 21 family physicians with 1 to 3 y in practice, and 42 family physicians with >or=10 y in practice. Following the Active Information Search process tracing approach, participants were initially presented with a patient description and presenting complaint and were subsequently able to request further information to diagnose and manage the patient. Evidence-based scoring criteria for information gathering, diagnosis, and management were derived from the literature and a separate study of expert opinion. Rates of misdiagnosis were in accordance with the number of features of difficulty. Seventy-eight percent of incorrect diagnoses were followed by inappropriate management and 92% of correct diagnoses by appropriate management. Number of critical cues requested (cues diagnostic of any relevant differential diagnoses in a scenario) was a significant predictor of accuracy in 6 scenarios: 1 additional critical cue increased the odds of obtaining the correct diagnosis by between 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.8) and 7.5 (95% CI, 3.2- 17.7), depending on the scenario. No effect of experience was detected on either diagnostic accuracy or management. Residents requested significantly more cues than experienced family physicians did. Supporting the gathering of critical information has the potential to improve the diagnosis and management of difficult problems in family medicine.

Impact of communication on consumers' food choices

Consumers' food choices and dietary behaviour can be markedly affected by communication and information. Whether the provided information is processed by the receiver, and thus becomes likely to be effective, depends on numerous factors. The role of selected determinants such as uncertainty, knowledge, involvement, health-related motives and trust, as well as message content variables, are discussed in the present paper based on previous empirical studies. The different studies indicate that: uncertainty about meat quality and safety does not automatically result in more active information search; subjective knowledge about fish is a better predictor of fish consumption than objective knowledge; high subjective knowledge about functional foods as a result of a low trusted information source such as mass media advertising leads to a lower probability of adopting these foods in the diet. Also, evidence of the stronger impact of negative news as compared with messages promoting positive outcomes of food choices is discussed. Finally, three audience-segmentation studies based on consumers' involvement with fresh meat, individuals' health-related-motive orientations and their use of and trust in fish information sources are presented. A clear message from these studies is that communication and information provision strategies targeted to a specific audience's needs, interests or motives stand a higher likelihood of being attended to and processed by the receiving audience, and therefore also stand a higher chance of yielding their envisaged impact in terms of food choice and dietary behaviour.

The Influence of Customer Loyalty on Channel Specific Consumer Information Search and Consumer Complaining Behaviour (Der Einfluss von Kundenbindung auf das kanalspezifische Informations und Beschwerdeverhalten)

In particular in highly competitive markets, customer retention is increasingly important. Consequently, companies must not only know their customers and their preferences, they must also translate the knowledge in a convincing marketing concept. There is strong empirical evidence that customer loyalty has an influence on consumer behaviour, e.g. on repurchase or word-of-mouth. Yet, hardly any research has been conducted on the influence of customer loyalty on consumer information search and consumer complaining behaviour. This study contributes to enhancing the knowledge in this subject. For both prepurchase and postpurchase stage, the study examines how different types of customer loyalty influence consumer behaviour in the Swiss mobile phone market.Due to the channelspecific nature of consumer behaviour, the channel Internet is of particular importance. It is expected that customers search for more information online. After all, the next source of information is only one click away. The stimulating effect should also hold true on online complaints. Dissatisfied customers can lodge their complaints by means of Internet anytime and anywhere. Moreover, most scholars assume that both the psychological and economic cost of an online complaint are considerably lower.As a first analysis of the results has revealed, customer loyalty indeed has a strong influence on information search and complaining behaviour. Truly loyal customers look for different information than disloyal customers. After a critical incident, they also complain more often to the company.Therefore, companies are well advised to target mainly at truly loyal customers and develop corresponding information/complaint management concepts. Truly loyal customers are often very profitable because they do not intend to switch (per definitionem). Moreover, they are less price-sensitive. By recommending the company to their friends and family, they also contribute to customer acquisition. During an active information search, word-of-mouth has turned out to be the most important information source. Negative critical incidents are discussed as well, regardless of whether the dissatisfied consumer has complaint to the company or not.

Sequential evidence accumulation in decision making: The individual desired level of confidence can explain the extent of information acquisition

AbstractJudgments and decisions under uncertainty are frequently linked to a prior sequential search for relevant information. In such cases, the subject has to decide when to stop the search for information. Evidence accumulation models from social and cognitive psychology assume an active and sequential information search until enough evidence has been accumulated to pass a decision threshold. In line with such theories, we conceptualize the evidence threshold as the “desired level of confidence” (DLC) of a person. This model is tested against a fixed stopping rule (one-reason decision making) and against the class of multi-attribute information integrating models. A series of experiments using an information board for horse race betting demonstrates an advantage of the proposed model by measuring the individual DLC of each subject and confirming its correctness in two separate stages. In addition to a better understanding of the stopping rule (within the narrow framework of simple heuristics), the results indicate that individual aspiration levels might be a relevant factor when modelling decision making by task analysis of statistical environments.

Social Representations of Barriers to Care Early in the Careers of Caregivers of Persons With Alzheimer's Disease

The first signs of cognitive impairment in the elderly generally elicit much concern among family members. Reactions run from denial to the active search for information. Some families manage to set up relatively well-organized networks of informal support to help both caregivers and elderly relatives. However, little is known about the processes underlying the different pathways that families follow at the onset of Alzheimer-type dementia in elderly relatives. To gain a better understanding of barriers to care early in the caregiving career, from the first signs of illness to diagnosis, the authors conducted interviews with 52 caregivers recruited at two cognition clinics. Barriers to help resources were analyzed from the viewpoint of social representations. This approach allowed the consideration of a broad range of individual and group phenomena capable of fashioning caregivers' representations of this period. The results confirmed the importance of the symbolic dimension of experience in steering social practice.