Collaborative Information Seeking Research Articles

The collaborative use of career information by young people and career advisers: A thematic content analysis of career counselling records

This study explores the career information-seeking behaviours of young people and career advisers. These are examined through the interrogation of a secondary data set held by Scotland's national skills agency, Skills Development Scotland. Descriptive and frequency analyses of engagement records from career conversations reveal three key characteristics of information seeking in career advisory settings: prompted information seeking; information seeking on young people's behalf and collaborative information seeking. The original contribution of this study lies in two novel research foci: (a) the identification of distinct patterns of career information-seeking behaviours and colloquial language which signifies that information seeking has taken place and (b) the consideration of young people and career advisers’ collaborative information seeking behaviours and their roles and functions within the career information-seeking process. These findings have implications for the improvement of career services and the development of career information, advice and guidance (CIAG) policies.

A Scoping Review of Collaborative Information Behavior

Many researchers have mischaracterized collaborative information behavior (CIB) with its sub-processes, including collaborative information seeking (CIS) and collaborative information retrieval (CIR). To learn about the most prominent CIB definitions, the phases involved in the CIB process, and the various collaboration tools that facilitate CIB, we sifted through a wide range of LIS research papers. Using a scoping review to correspond with the research questions, we conducted several iterations to exclude irrelevant studies while concurrently including pertinent ones. The “C5 model of collaboration” developed by Shah provides a framework for coding our data during content analysis and concept mapping. Our findings indicate that CIB has no generally adopted definition. Additionally, traditional workplace tools and technologies are the collaborative tools utilized for various collaborative activities. More CIB research is needed in the information science field to stay ahead of the rapid growth of collaborative AI technologies, particularly those that foster human-AI collaborations.

A User-Centered Evaluation of a COVID-19 Intelligent Query System (COVID-IQS).

As the fight against COVID-19 continues, it is critical to discover and accumulate knowledge in scientific literature to combat the pandemic. In this work, we shared the experience in developing an intelligent query system on COVID-19 literature. We conducted a user-centered evaluation with 12 researchers in our institution and identified usability issues in four categories: distinct user needs, functionality errors, suboptimal information display, and implementation errors. Furthermore, we shared two lessons for building such a COVID-19 literature search engine. We will deploy the system and continue refining it through multiple phases of evaluation to aid in redesigning the system to accommodate different user roles as well as enhancing repository features to support collaborative information seeking. The successful implementation of the COVID-IQS can support knowledge discovery and hypothesis generation in our institution and can be shared with other institutions to make a broader impact.

Factors and outcomes of collaborative information seeking: A mixed studies review with a framework synthesis

AbstractDespite being necessary, keeping up to date with new information and trends remains challenging in many fields due to information overload, time constraints, and insufficient evaluation skills. Collaboration, or sharing the effort among group members, may be a solution, but more knowledge is needed. To guide future research on the potential role of collaboration in keeping up to date, we conducted a systematic literature review with a framework synthesis aimed to adapt the conceptual framework for environmental scanning to a collaborative context. Our specific objectives were to identify the factors and outcomes of collaborative information seeking (CIS) and use them to propose an adapted conceptual framework. Fifty‐one empirical studies were included and synthesized using a hybrid thematic synthesis. The adapted framework includes seven types of influencing factors and five types of outcomes. Our review contributes to the theoretical expansion of knowledge on CIS in general and provides a conceptual framework to study collaboration in keeping up to date. Overall, our findings will be useful to researchers, practitioners, team leaders, and system designers implementing and evaluating collaborative information projects.

Collaborative Information Seeking in Digital Libraries, Learning Styles, Users’ Experience, and Task Complexity

Collaborative Information Seeking in Digital Libraries, Learning Styles, Users’ Experience, and Task Complexity

Collaborative information monitoring: Preliminary results of a systematic mixed studies review and a framework synthesis

AbstractKeeping up to date is essential across professional fields, yet it remains a challenge. Collaboration may act as a facilitator, yet more knowledge is needed to see if, how, and why it could overcome the challenges of keeping up to date. This systematic mixed studies review, a work in progress, bridges the conceptual fields of information monitoring/environmental scanning with collaborative information seeking. Specifically, a “best fit” framework synthesis approach is used to identify potential factors and outcomes, and to adapt a model of environmental scanning to collaborative information monitoring.

A review of technologies for collaborative online information seeking: On the contribution of collaborative argumentation

In everyday life, people seek, evaluate, and use online sources to underpin opinions and make decisions. While education must promote the skills people need to critically question the sourcing of online information, it is important, more generally, to understand how to successfully promote the acquisition of any skills related to seeking online information. This review outlines technologies that aim to support users when they collaboratively seek online information. Upon integrating psychological–pedagogical approaches on trust in and the sourcing of online information, argumentation, and computer-supported collaborative learning, we reviewed the literature (N = 95 journal articles) on technologies for collaborative online information seeking. The technologies we identified either addressed collaborative online information seeking as an exclusive process for searching for online information or, alternatively, addressed online information seeking within the context of a more complex learning process. Our review was driven by three main research questions: We aimed to understand whether and how the studies considered 1) the role of trust and critical questioning in the sourcing of online information, 2) the learning processes at play when information seekers engage in collaborative argumentation, and 3) what affordances are offered by technologies that support users’ collaborative seeking of online information. The reviewed articles that focused exclusively on technologies for seeking online information primarily addressed aspects of cooperation (e.g., task management), whereas articles that focused on technologies for integrating the processes of information seeking into the entire learning processes instead highlighted aspects of collaborative argumentation (e.g., exchange of multiple perspectives and critical questioning in argumentation). Seven of the articles referred to trust as an aspect of seekers’ sourcing strategies. We emphasize how researchers’, users’, and technology developers’ consideration of collaborative argumentation could expand the benefits of technological support for seeking online information.

Group trip planning and information seeking behaviours by mobile social media users: A study of tourists in Australia, Bangladesh and China

Social media plays an increasingly important role in travel information seeking and decision-making. However, there is limited understanding of how a group of tourists use social media to plan trips collaboratively and the different practices between countries. In this study, we investigated the collaborative information seeking (CIS) and sharing behaviours of mobile social media users from Australia, Bangladesh and China. Specifically, we surveyed a total of 219 participants to explore the differences in CIS behaviours when people were planning a group trip. The findings suggest significant differences among three countries in terms of the motivations of using social media, CIS activities and social interactions outside the group. Key findings include Bangladeshi and Chinese travellers preferred known contacts on social media, while Australian tourists intended to use both known contacts and user-generated contents for seeking information. The findings also show that social interactions employed by individuals are considered as an important complement of and are interwoven with in-group CIS; both contribute to tourism information seeking. Finally, we propose a framework for CIS research in the tourism domain.

Individual Differences in Undergraduate Students’ Collaborative Information Seeking Behavior When Working on Group Projects: A Study on Willingness to Collaborate and Sources Used

Small-group teaching has been a preferred pedagogy in higher education, and it requires to communicate or seek information with peers. Therefore, collaborative information seeking (CIS) plays an important role in students’ group projects. The current study investigates undergraduate students’ individual differences and their CIS behavior when working on coursework-related group projects. A questionnaire was used, with 535 participants recruited from undergraduate students having related experiences. Results show that students with different individual differences exhibit different CIS preferences. Upperclassmen and task-oriented students tend not to work with others due to various concerns. Additionally, female, underclassmen, and task-oriented students used a wider variety of sources. Based on findings, several suggestions for instructors in higher education institutions were provided.Keywords: Information Behavior; Collaborative Information Behavior; College Students; Demographics; Personality Traits 【摘要】透過問卷調查法，本研究針對臺灣北部一所綜合型研究大學來自不同學科背景之535位大學生，探討不同性別、系級、人格特質之大學生的協作資訊尋求行為，尤其是影響其協作意願的考量因素，以及其使用各項資源的頻率。研究結果顯示，高年級、人文社會科學與工醫農、任務導向之學生則較易因各項因素而不願與他人協作。而女性、低年級、人文社會科學與理科、任務導向之學生傾向使用較多元的資訊來源管道，其中，相較於法商與工醫農領域的學生，偏向基礎學科的人文社會科學與理科學生皆較偏好紙本資源。本文根據上述研究結果，提供大學教師實務上之建議，並提出未來研究建議。關鍵字：資訊行為、協作資訊尋求行為、大學生、個人差異、人格特質

Design for Collaborative Information-Seeking

Although Collaborative Information-Seeking (CIS) is becoming prevalent as people engage in shared decision-making, interface components adopted in the most commonly used information seeking tools (e.g., search, filter, select, and sort) are designed for individual use. To deepen our understanding of (1) how such single-user designs affect people's consensus building processes in CIS and (2) how to devise an alternative design to improve current practices, we conducted two 4-week diary studies and observed how groups seek out places together. Our studies focus on social event coordination as a case where CIS is necessary and important. In Study 1, we examined the major challenges people encounter when performing CIS using their preferred tools. These challenges include difficulties in capturing mutual preferences, high communication cost, and disparity of work depending on a group member's perceived role as an organizer or invitee. We discovered that improving a group's shared understanding of the target information they seek (e.g., places, products) could potentially address the challenges. In Study 2, we designed, deployed, and evaluated ComeTogether, a novel system that supports a group's social event coordination. ComeTogether adopts Collaborative Dynamic Queries (C-DQ), an interface designed to allow a group to share their preferences regarding potential destinations. Study 2 results indicate that using C-DQ increased users' awareness of other group members' preferences in performing CIS, making their coordination more transparent, more inviting, and fairer than what their current practice allows. Meanwhile, ComeTogether improved communication efficiency of groups while presenting opportunities to learn about others and to discover new places. We provide implications for design that explain considerations for adopting C-DQ and identify future research directions.

Characteristics of collaborative information seeking activities during group trip planning: A preliminary study

ABSTRACTCollaborative work among tourists is a topic of ongoing interest in information seeking area, and such activities are constantly evolving as technology advances. This paper explores the characteristics of a tourists group's activities during tourism information seeking. We conducted interviews with nine groups of tourists. The analysis identified four main characteristics of collaborative information seeking (CIS) activities in group trip planning process: initial co‐planning on the trip, seeking and sharing of information, prioritization of choices, and collaborative decisions. The findings of CIS characteristics will help CIS developer and tourism service operators to integrate new customized features and strategies to support group trip planning.

Tourists' social interactions on social media during a group trip planning

ABSTRACTThis paper explores the motivations for employing social interactions on social media during collaborative information seeking (CIS) in group trip planning. We conducted interviews with nine groups of tourists. The analysis identified three motivations for employing social interactions on social media while planning a group trip: finding and gathering information, scheduling the trip‐related activities, and cross‐checking of ideas. The findings also suggest that such interactions on social media contribute to group trip planning through improving the productivity of group information seeking and making better group trip planning.

Who you gonna call? seeking information and expertise for decision making in local government

ABSTRACTThis paper analyzes the findings of a research project into the information seeking practices of local government decision‐makers in terms of collaborative information seeking (CIS) and expertise seeking. It finds that the participants do collaborate in information seeking and that there is a clear preference for personal information sources. The generally accepted definition of CIS as groups collectively seeking information in the performance of common projects or tasks is found to have limited applicability in many real‐life situations. Conversely, viewing expertise seeking as an individual activity in which another person is selected as an information source based on their high level of knowledge or skill does not reflect the collaborative nature of the modern organization. It is argued that neither approach adequately accounts for the full range of behaviors observed in practice, and that research into organizational information behavior would benefit from a conceptual amalgamation of CIS and expertise seeking.

Empirical studies of collaborative information seeking: a review of methodological issues

PurposeInformation seeking is often performed in collaborative contexts. The research into such collaborative information seeking (CIS) has been proceeding since the 1990s but lacks methodological discussions. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and discuss methodological issues in existing CIS studies.Design/methodology/approachThe authors systematically review 69 empirical CIS studies.FindingsThe review shows that the most common methods of data collection are lab experiments (43 percent), observation (19 percent) and surveys (16 percent), that the most common methods of data analysis are description (33 percent), statistical testing (29 percent) and content analysis (19 percent) and that CIS studies involve a fairly even mix of novice, intermediate and specialist participants. However, the authors also find that CIS research is dominated by exploratory studies, leaves it largely unexplored in what ways the findings of a study may be specific to the particular study setting, appears to assign primacy to precision at the expense of generalizability, struggles with investigating how CIS activities extend over time and provides data about behavior to a larger extent than about reasons, experiences and especially outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsThe major implication of this review is its identification of the need for a shared model to which individual CIS studies can contribute in a cumulative manner. To support the development of such a model, the authors discuss a model of the core CIS process and a model of the factors that trigger CIS.Originality/valueThis study assesses the current state of CIS research, provides guidance for future CIS studies and aims to inspire further methodological discussion.

Impact of Task Types on Collaborative Information Seeking Behavior

Abstract This study examined the task type as an important factor in collaborative information seeking activities, devoting special attention to its impacts on collaborative information seeking behavior, awareness and sentiment. Collaborative information search experiments were conducted on a collaborative search system—Coagmento—for three different types of task (informational, transactional and navigational). System log, surveys and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, with quantitative and qualitative analyses carried out on the data which related to 12 participants in four groups. Quantitative analysis employed SPSS 20, while qualitative analysis was carried out using ATLAS.ti. Through our research, we found that the task types have impact on users’ collaborative information seeking behavior in terms of web page browsing, search and image using, as well as interact with task awareness. A collaborative team approach is more suitable for completing the informational task than transactional and navigational tasks, while the task type also influences the sentiment. Concretely speaking, the transactional task causes more negative emotions.

The concept of gatekeeping in information science: A philosophical reflection

The gatekeeping phenomenon has been studied in varied fields, and it has been applied with different meanings and purposes. The concept was coined in 1947 by Kurt Lewin to study food habits. He described housewives as gatekeepers who decide what food is appropriate, thus, led to the concept that gatekeepers control and effect members’ decision. This phenomenon attracted researchers from otherfields. In 1977, Thomas Allen was the first scientist from the information science field to investigate the information flow in R&D labs. He described gatekeepers and established their characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to review the concept in current literature.The paper represents significant find in gsto prove the importance of gatekeeping in diverse contexts such as medical and business fields. This philosophical review gives a broad understanding of the concept that may open new routes for future studies and optimistically add value tothefield of information science. Keywords: Gatekeeping, collaborative gatekeeping, information seeking, information behaviour, collaborative information seeking.

Report on the Second International Workshop on the Evaluation on Collaborative Information Seeking and Retrieval (ECol?2017 @ CHIIR)

The 2nd workshop on the evaluation of collaborative information retrieval and seeking (ECol) was held in conjunction with the ACM SIGIR Conference on Human Information Interaction & Retrieval (CHIIR) in Oslo, Norway. The workshop focused on discussing the challenges and difficulties of researching and studying collaborative information retrieval and seeking (CIS/CIR). After an introductory and scene setting overview of developments in CIR/CIS, participants were challenged with devising a range of possible CIR/CIS tasks that could be used for evaluation purposes. Through the brainstorming and discussions, valuable insights regarding the evaluation of CIR/CIS tasks become apparent ? for particular tasks efficiency and/or effectiveness is most important, however for the majority of tasks the success and quality of outcomes along with knowledge sharing and sense-making were most important ? of which these latter attributes are much more difficult to measure and evaluate. Thus the major challenge for CIR/CIS research is to develop methods, measures and methodologies to evaluate these high order attributes.

Collaborative information seeking and expertise seeking: different discourses about similar issues

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast research on collaborative information seeking (CIS) and expertise seeking (EXS) to identify focal themes, blind spots, and possibilities for cross-fertilization.Design/methodology/approachExisting research was reviewed. The review consisted of a content analysis of 70 (CIS) and 72 (EXS) studies with respect to the context, scope, process, and setting of CIS and EXS, supplemented with a bibliometric analysis of the references in the reviewed studies.FindingsIn CIS, the context is a group of actors collaborating on a shared task. In EXS, the information need is held by an individual but resolved by consulting other people. While the typical scope of EXS studies is source selection, CIS studies mostly concern the consultation of the sources and the use of the obtained information. CIS and EXS studies also attend differentially to the information-seeking process. Only 4 percent of the references in the reviewed studies are cited in both CIS and EXS research. The author concludes that, at present, CIS and EXS are different discourses about similar issues.Research limitations/implicationsIncreased interaction between CIS and EXS will advance research in both areas and prevent duplication of effort. Topics for future research are identified. It should be noted that the findings are limited to the 142 studies reviewed.Originality/valueBy analyzing CIS in the context of EXS, and vice versa, this study provides a fresh look at the information-seeking research that attends to collaboration.

Beyond traditional collaborative search: Understanding the effect of awareness on multi-level collaborative information retrieval

Although there has been a great deal of research into Collaborative Information Retrieval (CIR) and Collaborative Information Seeking (CIS), the majority has assumed that team members have the same level of unrestricted access to underlying information. However, observations from different domains (e.g. healthcare, business, etc.) have suggested that collaboration sometimes involves people with differing levels of access to underlying information. This type of scenario has been referred to as Multi-Level Collaborative Information Retrieval (MLCIR). To the best of our knowledge, no studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of awareness, an existing CIR/CIS concept, on MLCIR. To address this gap in current knowledge, we conducted two separate user studies using a total of 5 different collaborative search interfaces and 3 information access scenarios. A number of Information Retrieval (IR), CIS and CIR evaluation metrics, as well as questionnaires were used to compare the interfaces. Design interviews were also conducted after evaluations to obtain qualitative feedback from participants. Results suggested that query properties such as time spent on query, query popularity and query effectiveness could allow users to obtain information about team's search performance and implicitly suggest better queries without disclosing sensitive data. Besides, having access to a history of intersecting viewed, relevant and bookmarked documents could provide similar positive effect as query properties. Also, it was found that being able to easily identify different team members and their actions is important for users in MLCIR. Based on our findings, we provide important design recommendations to help develop new CIR and MLCIR interfaces.

The orchestration of a collaborative information seeking learning task

The paper describes our novel perspective on ‘searching to learn’ through collaborative information seeking (CIS). We describe this perspective, which motivated empirical work to ‘orchestrate’ a CIS searching to learn session. The work is described through the lens of orchestration, an approach which brings to the fore the ways in which: background context—including practical classroom constraints, and theoretical perspective; actors—including the educators, researchers, and technologies; and activities that are to be completed, are brought into alignment. The orchestration is exemplified through the description of research work designed to explore a pedagogically salient construct (epistemic cognition), in a particular institutional setting. Evaluation of the session indicated satisfaction with the orchestration from students, with written feedback indicating reflection from them on features of the orchestration. We foreground this approach to demonstrate the potential of orchestration as a design approach for researching and implementing CIS as a ‘searching to learn’ context.