A behavioral model of information seeking on the Web - Preliminary resultsof a study of how managers and IT specialists use the Web

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.