Cw. Choo et al., A behavioral model of information seeking on the Web - Preliminary resultsof a study of how managers and IT specialists use the Web, P ASIS ANNU, 35, 1998, pp. 290-302
The paper develops a new behavioral model of information seeking on the Web
by combining theoretical elements from information science and organizatio
n science. The model was tested, in a preliminary way, during the first pha
se of a study of how managers and IT specialists use the Web to seek extern
al information as part of their daily work. Participants answered a questio
nnaire and were interviewed individually in order to understand their infor
mation needs and information seeking preferences. A custom-developed tracke
r application was installed on their workplace computers, or their browsers
were redirected through a proxy server set up by the research team. Partic
ipants' Web-use activities were then monitored continuously for two work we
eks. The tracker application recorded participants' Web browser actions, wh
ile the proxy recorded HTTP requests and transfers. In a follow-up round of
personal interviews, participants recalled critical incidents of using inf
ormation from the Web. Data from the questionnaire, interviews, and the tra
cker and server log files supplied a rich database for study. Thirty signif
icant episodes of information seeking were isolated and analyzed in terms o
f their modes of viewing or searching, and their associated Web information
moves. Results were found to be compatible with the behavioral model propo
sed. Overall, the study suggests that a behavioral framework which relates
motivations (the strategies and modes of viewing and searching) and moves (
the tactics used to find and use information) may be helpful in analysing W
eb-based information seeking. The study also suggests that multiple, comple
mentary methods of collecting qualitative and quantitative data may be used
within a single study to compose a richer portrayal of how individuals see
k and use Web-based information in their natural work settings.