Purpose: This study attempts to investigate how a user's search behavior changes in the exploratory search process in order to understand the characteristics of the user's search behavior and build a behaviora...Purpose: This study attempts to investigate how a user's search behavior changes in the exploratory search process in order to understand the characteristics of the user's search behavior and build a behavioral model.Design/methodology/approach: Forty-two matriculated full-time senior college students with a female-to-male ratio of 1 to 1 who majored in medical science in Jilin University participated in our experiment. The task of the experiment was to search for information about 'the influence of environmental pollution on daily life' in order to write a report about this topic. The research methods include concept map, query log analysis and questionnaire survey.Findings: The results indicate that exploratory search can significantly change the knowledge structure of searchers. As searchers were moving through different stages of the exploratory search process, they experienced cognitive changes, and their search behaviors were characterized by quick browsing, careful browsing and focused searching.Research limitations: The study used only one search topic, and there is no comparision or control group. Although we took search habits, personal thinking habits, personality characteristics and professional background into account, a more detailed study to analyze the effects of these factors on exploratory search behavior is needed in our further research.Practical implications: This study can serve as a reference for other researchers engaged in the same effort to construct the supporting system of exploratory search.Originality/value: Three methods are used to investigate the behavior characteristics during exploratory search.展开更多
Given the importance of web search volume for reflecting tourists'preferences for certain tourism services and destinations,incorporating these data into forecasting models can significantly improve forecasting pe...Given the importance of web search volume for reflecting tourists'preferences for certain tourism services and destinations,incorporating these data into forecasting models can significantly improve forecasting performance.This study enriches the literature on tourism demand forecasting and tourists'search behavior through segmented Baidu search volume data.First,this study divides Baidu search volume data based on volume sources and periods.Then,by analyzing the most relevant keywords in tourism demand in different segments,this study captures the dynamic characteristics of tourist search behavior.Finally,this study adopts a series of econometric and machine learning models to further improve the performance of tourism demand and forecasting.The findings indicate that tourists’search behavior has changed significantly with the prevalence and popularization of 4G technology and suggest that search volume improves forecasting performance,especially search volume on mobile terminals,from 2014M1–2019M12.展开更多
This study examines the database search behaviors of individuals, focusing on gender differences and the impact of planning habits on information retrieval. Data were collected from a survey of 198 respondents, catego...This study examines the database search behaviors of individuals, focusing on gender differences and the impact of planning habits on information retrieval. Data were collected from a survey of 198 respondents, categorized by their discipline, schooling background, internet usage, and information retrieval preferences. Key findings indicate that females are more likely to plan their searches in advance and prefer structured methods of information retrieval, such as using library portals and leading university websites. Males, however, tend to use web search engines and self-archiving methods more frequently. This analysis provides valuable insights for educational institutions and libraries to optimize their resources and services based on user behavior patterns.展开更多
The existing search engines are lack of the consideration of personalization and display the same search results for different users despite their differences in interesting and purpose. By analyzing user＇s dynamic s...The existing search engines are lack of the consideration of personalization and display the same search results for different users despite their differences in interesting and purpose. By analyzing user＇s dynamic search behavior, the paper introduces a new method of using a keyword query graph to express user＇s dynamic search behavior, and uses Bayesian network to construct the prior probability of keyword selection and the migration probability between keywords for each user. To reflect the dynamic changes of the user＇s preference, the paper introduces non-lineal gradual forgetting collaborative filtering strategy into the personalized search recommendation model. By calculating the similarity between each two users, the model can do the recommendation based on neighbors and be used to construct the personalized search engine.展开更多
Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationships between different facets of work task and selection and query-related behavior.Design/methodology/approach:An experiment was conducted to explore the issue. The re...Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationships between different facets of work task and selection and query-related behavior.Design/methodology/approach:An experiment was conducted to explore the issue. The researcher recruited 24 participants and assigned six simulated work task situations to each of them. Each experiment lasted around 2 hours and was recorded by the software tool Morae.Findings: Time(frequency) and time(length) are more closely related to user’s selection and query-related behavior compared to the facet ‘process’ of work task. Knowledge level of work task topic, degree of work task difficulty, and subjective work task complexity are significantly correlated with selection and query-related behavior. Work task difficulty and work task complexity are different concepts. Subjective work task complexity, work task difficulty, and knowledge of work task topic are significantly correlated with user’s selection and query-related behavior.Research limitations/implications: The limitations of this study include a small sample size,limited work task situations, and possible spurious relationships. This study has implications in informing task-based information seeking/search/retrieval research and interactive information retrieval(IIR) systems design.Originality/values: Previous studies usually did not touch upon how different facets of work tasks affected interactive activities. Some studies examining task complexity and information behavior were concerned with how work tasks affect users’ behavior at information-seeking level, rather than at information search level. This study makes contribution to interactive information retrieval,task-based information search and retrieval, and personalization of IR.展开更多
A novel heuristic search algorithm called seeker op- timization algorithm （SOA） is proposed for the real-parameter optimization. The proposed SOA is based on simulating the act of human searching. In the SOA, search...A novel heuristic search algorithm called seeker op- timization algorithm （SOA） is proposed for the real-parameter optimization. The proposed SOA is based on simulating the act of human searching. In the SOA, search direction is based on empir- ical gradients by evaluating the response to the position changes, while step length is based on uncertainty reasoning by using a simple fuzzy rule. The effectiveness of the SOA is evaluated by using a challenging set of typically complex functions in compari- son to differential evolution （DE） and three modified particle swarm optimization （PSO） algorithms. The simulation results show that the performance of the SOA is superior or comparable to that of the other algorithms.展开更多
This study examined users' querying behaviors based on a sample of 30 Chinese college students from Peking University. The authors designed 5 search tasks and each participant conducted two randomly selected searc...This study examined users' querying behaviors based on a sample of 30 Chinese college students from Peking University. The authors designed 5 search tasks and each participant conducted two randomly selected search tasks during the experiment. The results show that when searching for pre-designed search tasks, users often have relatively clear goals and strategies before searching. When formulating their queries, users often select words from tasks, use concrete concepts directly, or extract 'central words' or keywords. When reformulating queries, seven query reformulation types were identified from users' behaviors, i.e. broadening, narrowing, issuing new query, paralleling, changing search tools, reformulating syntax terms, and clicking on suggested queries. The results reveal that the search results and/or the contexts can also influence users' querying behaviors.展开更多
Unlike consumers in the mall or supermarkets, online consumers are “intangible” and their purchasing behaviors are affected by multiple factors, including product pricing, promotion and discounts, quality of product...Unlike consumers in the mall or supermarkets, online consumers are “intangible” and their purchasing behaviors are affected by multiple factors, including product pricing, promotion and discounts, quality of products and brands, and the platforms where they search for the product. In this research, I study the relationship between product sales and consumer characteristics, the relationship between product sales and product qualities, demand curve analysis, and the search friction effect for different platforms. I utilized data from a randomized field experiment involving more than 400 thousand customers and 30 thousand products on JD.com, one of the world’s largest online retailing platforms. There are two focuses of the research: 1) how different consumer characteristics affect sales;2) how to set price and possible search friction for different channels. I find that JD plus membership, education level and age have no significant relationship with product sales, and higher user level leads to higher sales. Sales are highly skewed, with very high numbers of products sold making up only a small percentage of the total. Consumers living in more industrialized cities have more purchasing power. Women and singles lead to higher spending. Also, the better the product performs, the more it sells. Moderate pricing can increase product sales. Based on the research results of search volume in different channels, it is suggested that it is better to focus on app sales. By knowing the results, producers can adjust target consumers for different products and do target advertisements in order to maximize the sales. Also, an appropriate price for a product is also crucial to a seller. By the way, knowing the search friction of different channels can help producers to rearrange platform layout so that search friction can be reduced and more potential deals may be made.展开更多
基金supported by the National Social Science Foundation(Grant No.:11BTQ045)
文摘Purpose: This study attempts to investigate how a user's search behavior changes in the exploratory search process in order to understand the characteristics of the user's search behavior and build a behavioral model.Design/methodology/approach: Forty-two matriculated full-time senior college students with a female-to-male ratio of 1 to 1 who majored in medical science in Jilin University participated in our experiment. The task of the experiment was to search for information about 'the influence of environmental pollution on daily life' in order to write a report about this topic. The research methods include concept map, query log analysis and questionnaire survey.Findings: The results indicate that exploratory search can significantly change the knowledge structure of searchers. As searchers were moving through different stages of the exploratory search process, they experienced cognitive changes, and their search behaviors were characterized by quick browsing, careful browsing and focused searching.Research limitations: The study used only one search topic, and there is no comparision or control group. Although we took search habits, personal thinking habits, personality characteristics and professional background into account, a more detailed study to analyze the effects of these factors on exploratory search behavior is needed in our further research.Practical implications: This study can serve as a reference for other researchers engaged in the same effort to construct the supporting system of exploratory search.Originality/value: Three methods are used to investigate the behavior characteristics during exploratory search.
基金partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.72101197by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No.SK2021007.
文摘Given the importance of web search volume for reflecting tourists'preferences for certain tourism services and destinations,incorporating these data into forecasting models can significantly improve forecasting performance.This study enriches the literature on tourism demand forecasting and tourists'search behavior through segmented Baidu search volume data.First,this study divides Baidu search volume data based on volume sources and periods.Then,by analyzing the most relevant keywords in tourism demand in different segments,this study captures the dynamic characteristics of tourist search behavior.Finally,this study adopts a series of econometric and machine learning models to further improve the performance of tourism demand and forecasting.The findings indicate that tourists’search behavior has changed significantly with the prevalence and popularization of 4G technology and suggest that search volume improves forecasting performance,especially search volume on mobile terminals,from 2014M1–2019M12.
文摘This study examines the database search behaviors of individuals, focusing on gender differences and the impact of planning habits on information retrieval. Data were collected from a survey of 198 respondents, categorized by their discipline, schooling background, internet usage, and information retrieval preferences. Key findings indicate that females are more likely to plan their searches in advance and prefer structured methods of information retrieval, such as using library portals and leading university websites. Males, however, tend to use web search engines and self-archiving methods more frequently. This analysis provides valuable insights for educational institutions and libraries to optimize their resources and services based on user behavior patterns.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (60432010)the National Basic Research Program of China (2007CB307103)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2009RC0507)Important Science & Technology Specific Project of Guizhou Province (【2007】6017)
文摘The existing search engines are lack of the consideration of personalization and display the same search results for different users despite their differences in interesting and purpose. By analyzing user＇s dynamic search behavior, the paper introduces a new method of using a keyword query graph to express user＇s dynamic search behavior, and uses Bayesian network to construct the prior probability of keyword selection and the migration probability between keywords for each user. To reflect the dynamic changes of the user＇s preference, the paper introduces non-lineal gradual forgetting collaborative filtering strategy into the personalized search recommendation model. By calculating the similarity between each two users, the model can do the recommendation based on neighbors and be used to construct the personalized search engine.
基金sponsored by National Social Science Foundation of China(Grant No. 11BTQ009)
文摘Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationships between different facets of work task and selection and query-related behavior.Design/methodology/approach:An experiment was conducted to explore the issue. The researcher recruited 24 participants and assigned six simulated work task situations to each of them. Each experiment lasted around 2 hours and was recorded by the software tool Morae.Findings: Time(frequency) and time(length) are more closely related to user’s selection and query-related behavior compared to the facet ‘process’ of work task. Knowledge level of work task topic, degree of work task difficulty, and subjective work task complexity are significantly correlated with selection and query-related behavior. Work task difficulty and work task complexity are different concepts. Subjective work task complexity, work task difficulty, and knowledge of work task topic are significantly correlated with user’s selection and query-related behavior.Research limitations/implications: The limitations of this study include a small sample size,limited work task situations, and possible spurious relationships. This study has implications in informing task-based information seeking/search/retrieval research and interactive information retrieval(IIR) systems design.Originality/values: Previous studies usually did not touch upon how different facets of work tasks affected interactive activities. Some studies examining task complexity and information behavior were concerned with how work tasks affect users’ behavior at information-seeking level, rather than at information search level. This study makes contribution to interactive information retrieval,task-based information search and retrieval, and personalization of IR.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(60870004)
文摘A novel heuristic search algorithm called seeker op- timization algorithm （SOA） is proposed for the real-parameter optimization. The proposed SOA is based on simulating the act of human searching. In the SOA, search direction is based on empir- ical gradients by evaluating the response to the position changes, while step length is based on uncertainty reasoning by using a simple fuzzy rule. The effectiveness of the SOA is evaluated by using a challenging set of typically complex functions in compari- son to differential evolution （DE） and three modified particle swarm optimization （PSO） algorithms. The simulation results show that the performance of the SOA is superior or comparable to that of the other algorithms.
基金partially supported by China Scholarship Council(Grant No.:2009601175)
文摘This study examined users' querying behaviors based on a sample of 30 Chinese college students from Peking University. The authors designed 5 search tasks and each participant conducted two randomly selected search tasks during the experiment. The results show that when searching for pre-designed search tasks, users often have relatively clear goals and strategies before searching. When formulating their queries, users often select words from tasks, use concrete concepts directly, or extract 'central words' or keywords. When reformulating queries, seven query reformulation types were identified from users' behaviors, i.e. broadening, narrowing, issuing new query, paralleling, changing search tools, reformulating syntax terms, and clicking on suggested queries. The results reveal that the search results and/or the contexts can also influence users' querying behaviors.
文摘Unlike consumers in the mall or supermarkets, online consumers are “intangible” and their purchasing behaviors are affected by multiple factors, including product pricing, promotion and discounts, quality of products and brands, and the platforms where they search for the product. In this research, I study the relationship between product sales and consumer characteristics, the relationship between product sales and product qualities, demand curve analysis, and the search friction effect for different platforms. I utilized data from a randomized field experiment involving more than 400 thousand customers and 30 thousand products on JD.com, one of the world’s largest online retailing platforms. There are two focuses of the research: 1) how different consumer characteristics affect sales;2) how to set price and possible search friction for different channels. I find that JD plus membership, education level and age have no significant relationship with product sales, and higher user level leads to higher sales. Sales are highly skewed, with very high numbers of products sold making up only a small percentage of the total. Consumers living in more industrialized cities have more purchasing power. Women and singles lead to higher spending. Also, the better the product performs, the more it sells. Moderate pricing can increase product sales. Based on the research results of search volume in different channels, it is suggested that it is better to focus on app sales. By knowing the results, producers can adjust target consumers for different products and do target advertisements in order to maximize the sales. Also, an appropriate price for a product is also crucial to a seller. By the way, knowing the search friction of different channels can help producers to rearrange platform layout so that search friction can be reduced and more potential deals may be made.
