Questions as a factor in Web search strategy

This gaper studies the influence of question-related variables (closed/open and predictable/unpredictable source) on Web users' choices of search stra tegy (direct address, subject directory, and search engine) in the initial stage of a search. Subjects are 54 Finnish and American students with about 2.5 yr of Web searching. Data were gathered via a questionnaire asking for decisions for 16 questions of four types: closed/predictable source; close d/unpredictable source; open/predictable source; open/unpredictable source. The participants not only indicated a fairly high degree of familiarity wi th the initial search options and used different search strategies but also were influenced in their choice of an initial search strategy by question- related characteristics. Of the two question characteristics in the study, the most influential is the predictable/unpredictable source of the answer. The participants mentioned 24 different types of reasons for selecting the initial search strategy, which were grouped by their focus on questions, s ources, and search strategy options. The reasons varied across question typ es. A model of choice behavior shows relationships among the initial questi on, the reasons, and the choice of initial search strategies. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.