Differences between novice and experienced users in searching information on the World Wide Web

Searching for information on the World Wide Web (WWW) basically comes down to locating an appropriate Web site and to retrieving relevant information from that site. This study examined the effect of a user’s WWW experience on both phases of the search process. Twenty-five students from two schools for Dutch preuniversity education were observed while performing three search tasks. The results indicate that subjects with WWW-experience are more proficient in locating Web sites than are novice WWW-users. The observed differences were ascribed to the experts’ superior skills in operating Web search engines. However, on tasks that required subjects to locate information on specific Web sites, the performance of experienced and novice users was equivalent—a result that is in line with hypertext research. Based on these findings, implications for training and supporting students in searching for information on the WWW are identified. Finally, the role of the subjects’ level of domain expertise is discussed and directions for future research are proposed.

[1]  Peter B. Mosenthal,et al.  Defining Prose Task Characteristics for Use in Computer-Adaptive Testing and Instruction , 1998 .

[2]  Edward J. Brunenkant.  Data bases-history of developments and trends , 1978, J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci..

[3]  Swapnesh C. Patel,et al.  Effectiveness of expert semantic knowledge as a navigational aid within hypertext , 1998, Behav. Inf. Technol..

[4]  Julita Vassileva.  A task-centered approach for user modeling in a hypermedia office documentation system , 1996 .

[5]  Gary Marchionini,et al.  Information Seeking in Electronic Environments , 1995 .

[6]  Craig Locatis,et al.  Searching Through Cyberspace: The Effects of Link Cues and Correspondence on Information Retrieval from Hypertext on the World Wide Web , 1998, J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci..

[7]  Peter B. Mosenthal,et al.  Understanding the strategies of document literacy and their conditions of use. , 1996 .

[8]  Tricia Jones.  Incidental Learning During Information Retrieval: A Hypertext Experiment , 1989, ICCAL.

[9]  Craig Locatis,et al.  Searching through cyberspace: the effects of link display and link density on information retrieval from hypertext on the World Wide Web , 1998 .

[10]  Gary Marchionini.  Information-seeking strategies of novices using a full-text electronic encyclopedia , 1989 .

[11]  David B. Pillemer,et al.  Summing Up: The Science of Reviewing Research , 1984 .

[12]  J. Watson.  “If you don't have it, you can't find it”: a close look at students' perceptions in using technology , 1998 .

[13]  Jenny K. Holder,et al.  A visit to the information mall: Web searching behavior of high school students , 1999 .

[14]  Jennifer Preece,et al.  A psychological investigation of long retrieval times on the World Wide Web , 1998, Interact. Comput..

[15]  Gary Marchionini,et al.  Finding facts vs. browsing knowledge in hypertext systems , 1988, Computer.

[16]  M. Hannafin,et al.  Cognitive strategies and learning from the world wide web , 1997 .

[17]  Rosemary J. Stevenson,et al.  Navigation in hyperspace: An evaluation of the effects of navigational tools and subject matter expertise on browsing and information retrieval in hypertext , 1998, Interact. Comput..

[18]  Hsinchun Chen,et al.  Internet Browsing and Searching: User Evaluations of Category Map and Concept Space Techniques , 1998, J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci..