Sii: the lightweight analytical search interface inspector

In this paper we report on a recent analytical inspection framework, called Sii, which has been designed to evaluate the ways in which a search interface supports different information seeking behaviours. Using established theories from information seeking research, this inspection method can be used by the designers of search interfaces to quickly assess design ideas. Whether the evaluator is a digital librarian, a usability specialist, or an information retrieval engineer, the method provides early search-focused insights into designs. We present an overview of the framework, some key related research, and some example results. We conclude by discussing our efforts for making sure the method is as lightweight to apply as possible, while still producing insightful results.

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