A New Integrated Model for Multitasking during Web Searching

Abstract

There have been many studies in the field of information behavior. Recently Du and Spink (2011) presented a model, which simulates multitasking, cognitive coordination and cognitive shifts on web. However, this model does not incorporate personal variables and the impact of task or web design. This research addresses this gap. Information and psychological scientists have shown that information behavior (IR) is affected by: the affective domain, cognitive attributes, psychological factors, personality dimensions and sociological factors. This study investigates how IR is affected by working memory (wm), cognitive coordination, cognitive shifts and various artifacts and task variables influenced by the PAT model (Personal, Artifact and Task characteristics) of flow. The research is exploratory and takes a pragmatic, mixed method approach. Thirty University students will participate. The research tools include: pre and post questionnaires, working memory tests, Flow State Scale test, think aloud data, observations, audio-visual data, web search logs and use of the Critical Decision Method. The qualitative data will be coded and analyzed thematically and will be related to the quantitative data. This study is expected to identify the impact of all these variables on multitasking IR in the web and provide a new integrated framework, which is not only going to help information scientists to better understand this behavior but also web companies to develop more effective web products.

Uncovering Web search tactics in South African higher education

“…The Web, by its dynamic nature, induces change in both information retrieval systems and in information itself, which creates difficulties for searchers (Nordlie & Pharo 2013;Xie 2007). Searchers are therefore required to employ their cognitive skills, domain knowledge and general knowledge, in addition to their understanding and expertise of a system and proficiency and ability in information seeking (Alexopoulou, Morris & Hepworth 2014;Marchionini 1995;Xie 2007). Searchers are also required to be active when searching the Web in order for valuable information to be extracted and for the information to be used effectively (Hoeber 2008;Hoque et al 2013).…”

Quantitative modeling of user performance in multitasking environments

“…A web search model (Du & Spink, 2011), which integrated multitasking, cognitive coordination, and cognitive shifts during multitasking, was presented to explore the characteristics of multitasking behavior, types of cognitive shifts, and levels of cognitive coordination as well as the relationships between them during a web search. Alexopoulou, Morris, and Hepworth (2014) also presented an integrated model for multitasking during web searching. According to this model, they investigated how information behavior is affected by working memory, cognitive coordination, cognitive shifts, and various artifacts and task variables influenced by the PAT model (Personal, Artifact and Task characteristics) of flow.…”

“…In the field of information behavior, multitasking information behavior has been compared with different personal variables. Psychologists have shown that information behavior is affected by: the affective domain, cognitive attributes, psychological factors, personality dimensions and sociological factors (Alexopoulou et al, 2014). Du and Spink (2011) presented a model to simulate multitasking, cognitive coordination and cognitive shifts on the web.…”

“…However, this model does not incorporate personal variables and the impact of task or web design. Alexopoulou et al (2014) addressed this gap in a study of the investigation of information behavior. This research explored the effects of working memory, cognitive coordination, cognitive shifts and various artifacts and task variables influenced by the PAT model (Personal, Artifact and Task characteristics) of flow.…”