Mental Models Theory and Search Outcome in a Bibliographic Retrieval System.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the end user's mental model of a bibliographic retrieval system and search outcome. Interviews were conducted to determine level of completeness of each subject's mental model. Subjects were categorized in terms of complete, good, incomplete and poor mental models. Subjects conducted a predetermined set of searches using a bibliographic retrieval system. A record of each search was kept and used to examine search outcome. Results supported the hypothesis that there is a relationship between the completeness of the end user's mental model and both error behavior and total number of successful searches