Collaborative information searching as learning in academic group work

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore users’ learning in the collaborative information search process when they conduct an academic task as a group. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a longitudinal study for a three-month period on an actual task. The participants, who were undergraduate students, needed to write a research proposal in three months to apply for funding for a research project, including a three-hour experiment. Findings The results show that undergraduates’ learning in the collaborative search process for academic group work included knowledge reconstruction, tuning, and assimilation. Their understanding of the topic concepts improved through the process, and their attitudes became more optimistic. Besides, the learning in the collaborative information search process also enhanced participants’ skills in communication, research, information search, and collaboration. To improve learning outcomes, professional and appropriate academic resources are required, as well as effective division of labor, positive sharing behaviors, and use of collaborative systems. Practical implications The future development of collaborative information search systems should focus on the needs of academic research and support for elements such as instant communication and knowledge sharing. Originality/value This paper contributes to research into searching as learning by understanding undergraduates’ collaborative search behavior for writing a proposal.

Understanding online health information consumers' search as a learning process

“…Restructuring involves constructing new structures to account for new information that LHT 38,4 conflicts with prior knowledge (Vosniadou and Brewer, 1987). In research into collaborative search processes for academic group work, learning behavior was classified as restructuring, tuning, and assimilation, and understanding topic concepts improved through the learning process (Wu et al, 2018). Bhattacharya and Gwizdka (2019) conducted a user study and found that the verbal knowledge change of participants would be reflected in their search behaviors and eye-gaze measures related to acquiring information and reading.…”

“…Various studies have investigated search as a learning process in different contexts, such as academia, and commercial planning while learning is embedded in the information searching process (Wu et al, 2018;Zhang and Soergel, 2016). A few studies have attempted to investigate potential indicators of learning and the relationship between search behavior and learning outcomes by designing learning-related search tasks (Thompson et al, 2016;Vakkari, Pannanen and Serola, 2003).…”

Collaborative query reformulation in tourism information search

“…Users have been found to interact with a search system by frequently reformulating their queries to satisfy their information needs (Aloteibi and Sanderson, 2014;Jansen et al, 2000;Jansen et al, 2009). Collaborative information search (CIS) has attracted growing attention in recent years (Capra et al, 2013;Leeder and Shah, 2016;Wu et al, 2018). Collaborative search refers to an information searching and retrieving process involving human beings interacting with other humans, directly or indirectly, for solving a common task in workplace settings or everyday life situations (Hansen and Järvelin, 2005).…”

Subject structure of the research area on collaborative information behaviour

“…The first one covers the issues of collaborative information: organising, retrieval, seeking, sharing and storing (e.g. Hertzum, 2017;Mohammad Arif et al, 2015;Wu et al, 2018a). The second one refers to collaborative information: analysing, creating, editing, filtering, interpreting and synthesizing (e.g.…”