Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Designing Multistage Search Systems to Support the Information Seeking Process

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Understanding and Improving Information Search

Part of the book series: Human–Computer Interaction Series ((HCIS))

Abstract

Due to the advances in information retrieval in the past decades, search engines have become extremely efficient at acquiring useful sources in response to a user’s query. However, for more prolonged and complex information seeking tasks, these search engines are not as well suited. During complex information seeking tasks, various stages may occur, which imply varying support needs for users. However, the implications of theoretical information seeking models for concrete search user interfaces (SUI) design are unclear, both at the level of the individual features and of the whole interface. Guidelines and design patterns for concrete SUIs, on the other hand, provide recommendations for feature design, but these are separated from their role in the information seeking process. This chapter addresses the question of how to design SUIs with enhanced support for the macro-level process, first by reviewing previous research. Subsequently, we outline a framework for complex task support, which explicitly connects the temporal development of complex tasks with different levels of support by SUI features. This is followed by a discussion of concrete system examples which include elements of the three dimensions of our framework in an exploratory search and sensemaking context. Moreover, we discuss the connection of navigation with the search-oriented framework. In our final discussion and conclusion, we provide recommendations for designing more holistic SUIs which potentially evolve along with a user’s information seeking process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    An extensive further overview of information seeking models can for instance be found in Case (2012), Fisher et al. (2005).

  2. 2.

    Google’s Wonder Wheel provided “an interactive way of exploring related searches” (Wilson 2011).

  3. 3.

    For instance, how to design a “pagination control” feature for a search engine, http://web.archive.org/web/20150406100824/developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/navigation/pagination/search.html.

  4. 4.

    Although, as Bates (1990) notes, it is difficult to list a search strategy in advance “in any but the simplest searches, because most real-life searches are influenced by the information gathered along the way in the search.”.

  5. 5.

    The task approach has been further described in Huurdeman et al. (2019).

References

  • Ahlberg C, Shneiderman, B (1994) Visual information seeking: tight coupling of dynamic query filters with starfield displays. In: Proceedings of the CHI. ACM, pp 313–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates MJ (1979) Idea tactics. J Am Soc Inform Sci 30(5):280–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates MJ (1989) The design of browsing and berrypicking techniques for the online search interface. Online Rev 13(5):407–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates MJ (1990) Where should the person stop and the information search interface start? Inf Proc Man 26(5):575–591 Jan

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaulieu M (2000) Interaction in information searching and retrieval. J Doc 56(4):431–439 Aug

    Google Scholar 

  • Beheshti J, Cole C, Abuhimed D, Lamoureux I (2014) Tracking middle school students’ information behavior via Kuhlthau’s ISP Model: temporality. J Am Soc Inform Sci Technol

    Google Scholar 

  • Belkin NJ, Cool C, Stein A, Thiel U (1995) Cases, scripts, and information-seeking strategies: on the design of interactive information retrieval systems. Expert Syst Appl 9(3):379–395 Jan

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett JL (1972) The user interface in interactive systems. Annu Rev Inf Sci Technol 7:159–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett JL (1971) Interactive bibliographic search as a challenge to interface design. In: Interactive bibliographic search: the user/computer interface. AFIPS Press, pp 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Byström K, Järvelin K (1995) Task complexity affects information seeking and use. Inf Proc Man 31(2):191–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Capra R, Arguello J, Crescenzi A, Vardell E (2015) Differences in the use of search assistance for tasks of varying complexity. In: Proceeding of the SIGIR, SIGIR 2015. ACM, pp 23–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Case DO (2012) Looking for information: a survey of research on information seeking, needs, and behavior. Emerald

    Google Scholar 

  • Dehghani M, Jagfeld G, Azarbonyad H, Olieman A, Kamps J, Marx M (2017) Telling How to narrow it down: browsing path recommendation for exploratory search. In: Proceedings of the CHIIR 2017. ACM Press, pp 369–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Diriye A, Blandford A, Tombros A (2010) When is system support effective? In: Proceedings of the IIiX. ACM, pp 55–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Diriye A, Blandford A, Tombros A, Vakkari P (2013) The role of search interface features during information seeking. In Proceedings of the TPDL 2013. LNCS, vol 8092. Springer, pp 235–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Donato D, Bonchi F, Chi T, Y. Maarek (2010) Do you want to take notes?: identifying research missions in yahoo! search pad. In: Proceedings of the WWW 2010. ACM, pp 321–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis D (1989) A behavioural approach to information retrieval system design. J Doc 45:171–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher KE, Erdelez S, McKechnie L (eds) (2005) Theories of information behavior. Information Today

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster A (2005) Nonlinear information seeking. In Fisher et al. (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu W-T, Pirolli P (2007) SNIF-ACT: a cognitive model of user navigation on the World Wide Web. Hum-Comput Interact 22(4):355–412 Nov

    Google Scholar 

  • Gäde M, Hall M, Huurdeman H, Kamps J, Koolen M, Skov M, Toms E, Walsh D (2015) Overview of the interactive social book search track. In: Working notes of CLEF 2015-conference and labs of the evaluation forum, vol 1391. CEUR-WS

    Google Scholar 

  • Gäde M, Hall M, Huurdeman H, Kamps J, Koolen M, Skov M, Toms E, Walsh D (2016) Overview of the INEX 2016 interactive social book search track. In: Working notes of CLEF 2016-conference and labs of the evaluation forum. CEUR-WS

    Google Scholar 

  • Golovchinsky G, Belkin NJ (1999) Innovation and evaluation of information: a CHI98 workshop. SIGCHI Bull 31(1):22–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Hearst M (2009) Search user interfaces. Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Hearst MA, Degler D (2013) Sewing the seams of sensemaking: a practical interface for tagging and organizing saved search results. In: Proceedings of the HCIR 2013. ACM

    Google Scholar 

  • Huurdeman HC (2018) Supporting the complex dynamics of the information seeking process. PhD thesis, University of Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Huurdeman HC (2017) Dynamic compositions: recombining search user interface features for supporting complex work tasks. In: Proceedings of the second workshop on supporting complex search tasks co-located with the acm sigir conference on human information interaction & retrieval (CHIIR 2017), vol 1798. CEUR-WS, pp 21–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Huurdeman HC, Kamps J (2014) From multistage information-seeking models to multistage search systems. In: Proceedings of the IIiX 2014. ACM, pp 145–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Huurdeman HC, Wilson ML, Kamps J (2016) Active and passive utility of search interface features in different information seeking task stages. In: Proceedings of the CHIIR, CHIIR 2016. ACM, pp 3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Huurdeman HC, Kamps J, Wilson ML (2019) The multi-stage experience: the simulated work task approach to studying information seeking task stages. In: Proceedings of the BIIRRR workshop at CHIIR 2019, vol 2337. CEUR-WS

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingwersen P (1992) Information retrieval interaction. Taylor Graham

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingwersen P, Järvelin K (2005) The turn-integration of information seeking and retrieval in context. Springer, Dordrecht

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Jia Y, Niu X (2014) Should i stay or should i go: two features to help people stop an exploratory search wisely. In: Proceedings of the CHI EA 2014. ACM Press, pp 1357–1362

    Google Scholar 

  • Jul S, Furnas GW (1997) Navigation in electronic worlds: a CHI 97 workshop. ACM SIGCHI Bull 29(4):44–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamps J (2011) Toward a model of interaction for complex search tasks. In: ESAIR. ACM, pp 7–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Karanam S, van Oostendorp H (2020) Cognitive modeling of age & domain knowledge differences in information search. In: Fu W-T, van Oostendorp H (Eds) Understanding and improving information search: a cognitive approach. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp 47–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Karanam S, van Oostendorp H, Tat Fu W (2016) Performance of computational cognitive models of web-navigation on real websites. J Inf Sci 42(1):94–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly D, Arguello J, Capra R (2013) NSF workshop on task-based information search systems. SIGIR Forum 47(2):116–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitajima M, Blackmon MH, Polson PG (2005) Cognitive architecture for website design and usability evaluation: comprehension and information scent in performing by exploration. In: Proceedings of the HCI international 2005, vol 4. L. Erlbaum Associates

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhlthau CC (1991) Inside the search process: information seeking from the user’s perspective. J Am Soc Inform Sci 42:361–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhlthau CC (2004) Seeking meaning: a process approach to library and information services. Libraries Unlimited, Westport, CT

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhlthau CC (2005) Kuhlthau’s information search process. In: Fisher et al. (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kules B, Capra R (2012) Influence of training and stage of search on gaze behavior in a library catalog faceted search interface. J Am Soc Inform Sci Technol 63:114–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Kules B, Capra R, Banta M, Sierra T (2009) What do exploratory searchers look at in a faceted search interface? In: Proceedings of the JCDL. ACM, pp 313–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Marchionini G (1995) Information seeking in electronic environments. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Marchionini G (2006) Exploratory search: from finding to understanding. Commun ACM 49(4):41–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Melgar LM, Koolen M, Huurdeman HC, Blom J (2017) A process model of scholarly media annotation. In: Proceedings of the CHIIR, CHIIR 2017. ACM

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris D, Ringel Morris M, Venolia G (2008) Searchbar: a search-centric web history for task resumption and information re-finding. In: Proceedings of the CHI 2008. ACM, pp 1207–1216

    Google Scholar 

  • Niu X, Kelly D (2014) The use of query suggestions during information search. Inf Process Manage 50:218–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Oddy RN (1977) Information retrieval through man-machine dialogue. J Doc 33(1):1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul SA, Morris MR (2009) Cosense: enhancing sensemaking for collaborative web search. In: Proceedings of the CHI 2009. ACM, pp 1771–1780

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirolli P (2009) Powers of 10: modeling complex information-seeking systems at multiple scales. IEEE Comput 42:33–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirolli P (2019) Challenges for a computational cognitive psychology for the new digital ecosystem. In: Understanding and improving information search: a cognitive approach, chapter 2, This volume. Springer

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirolli P, Card S (1999) Information foraging. Psychol Rev 106(4):643

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirolli P, Card S (2005) The sensemaking process and leverage points for analyst technology as identified through cognitive task analysis. In: Intelligence analysis, pp 2–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Qu Y, Furnas GW (2008) Model-driven formative evaluation of exploratory search: a study under a sensemaking framework. Inf Process Manage 44:534–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruotsalo T, Jacucci G, Myllymäki P, Kaski S (2014) Interactive intent modeling: information discovery beyond search. Commun ACM 58(1):86–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruthven I (2008) Interactive information retrieval. Annu Rev Inf Sci Technol 42:43–91

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Saracevic T (1997) The stratified model of information retrieval interaction: extension and applications. In: Proceedings of the ASIS annual meeting, vol 34. Learned Information (Europe) Ltd., pp 313–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Shneiderman B, Pleasant C (2005) Designing the user interface: strategies for effective human-computer interaction. Pearson Education

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith CL, Rieh SY (2019) Knowledge-context in search systems: toward information-literate actions. In: Proceedings of the CHIIR 2019, CHIIR 2019. ACM, pp 55–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith SL, Mosier JN (1986) Guidelines for designing user interface software. Technical report, MITRE

    Google Scholar 

  • Spink A (1997) Study of interactive feedback during mediated information retrieval. J Am Soc Inform Sci 48(5):382–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweller J, Merrienboer JJGV, Paas FGWC (1998) Cognitive architecture and instructional design. Educ Psychol Rev 10(3):251–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Toms EG (2011) Task-based information searching and retrieval. In: Interactive information seeking, behaviour and retrieval. Facet

    Google Scholar 

  • Tunkelang D (2009) Faceted search. Synth Lect Inf Concepts Retr Serv 1(1):1–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Umemoto K, Yamamoto T, Tanaka K (2020) Search support tools. In: Fu W-T, van Oostendorp H (Eds) Understanding and improving information search: a cognitive approach. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp 139–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Vakkari P (2003) Task-based information searching. ARIST 37:413–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Vakkari P (2001) A theory of the task-based information retrieval process: a summary and generalisation of a longitudinal study. J Doc 57(1):44–60

    Google Scholar 

  • van Oostendorp H and Karanam S (2020) Semantic relevance feedback on queries and search results for younger and older adults. In: Fu W-T, van Oostendorp H (Eds) Understanding and improving information search: a cognitive approach. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp 97–111

    Google Scholar 

  • White RW, Roth RA (2009a) Exploratory search: beyond the query-response paradigm. Synth Lect Inf Concepts Retr Serv 1:1–98

    Google Scholar 

  • White RW, Roth RA (2009b) Exploratory search: beyond the query-response paradigm. Synthesis lectures on information concepts, retrieval, and services. Morgan & Claypool Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  • White RW, Ruthven I, Jose JM (2005) A study of factors affecting the utility of implicit relevance feedback. In: Proceedings of the SIGIR. ACM, pp 35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildemuth B, Freund L, Toms EG (2014) Untangling search task complexity and difficulty in the context of interactive information retrieval studies. J Doc 70(6):1118–1140

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson ML (2011) Search user interface design. Synth Lect Inf Concepts Retr Serv 3(3):1–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson ML, Kules B, Schraefel MC, Shneiderman B (2010) From keyword search to exploration: designing future search interfaces for the web. Found Trends Web Sci 2(1):1–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson TD (1999) Models in information behaviour research. J Doc 55:249–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright W, Schroh D, Proulx P, Skaburskis A, Cort B (2006) The sandbox for analysis: concepts and methods. In: Proceedings of the CHI, CHI 2006. ACM, pp 801–810

    Google Scholar 

  • Yee K-P, Swearingen K, Li K, Hearst MA (2003) Faceted metadata for image search and browsing. In: Proceeding of the CHI, CHI 2003. ACM, pp 401–408

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Max Wilson for collaboration and discussion leading to the work reported in this chapter. Earlier research was funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO CATCH program, # 640.005.001). Subsequent work on this chapter was made possible by NWO project # 314.99.302.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Hugo C. Huurdeman & Jaap Kamps

Authors
  1. Hugo C. Huurdeman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jaap Kamps
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hugo C. Huurdeman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Raytheon BBN Technologies, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Wai Tat Fu

  2. Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Herre van Oostendorp

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Huurdeman, H.C., Kamps, J. (2020). Designing Multistage Search Systems to Support the Information Seeking Process. In: Fu, W., van Oostendorp, H. (eds) Understanding and Improving Information Search. Human–Computer Interaction Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38825-6_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38825-6_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-38824-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-38825-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation