Information interaction in molecular medicine

Kumpulainen, Sanna; Järvelin, Kalervo

doi:10.1145/1840784.1840800

Cited by 30 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The more complex the task and the more different information types needed, the more information sources are used [5]. A similar phenomenon was observed by Kumpulainen and Järvelin [19]: A complex task session involves a broad range of information sources from Web searches to browsing through papers. If no obvious source exists, searchers must use several non-specific information channels in order to fill their information needs.…”

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Byström and Järvelin [7] separate tasks in five groups according to the task performer's ability to define the task process, the outcome and the information needed in advance. Kumpulainen and Järvelin [19] use the definition of a priori knowledge in relation to task session complexity. Li and Belkin [22], instead, regard a priori knowledge as neither a part of task complexity nor task difficulty.…”

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kumpulainen and Järvelin [19] used the term resource to describe all the information sources, information channels and other requisites for handling information. We use the term information resource similarly.…”

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, our findings can be used as a base for a more general contrasting as we used same kinds of complexity indicators as, e.g. Kumpulainen and Järvelin [19] (a priori knowledge) and Byström [5] (a priori knowledge and perceived task complexity).…”

Section: Task Complexitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A similar approach has been followed by, e.g., Vakkari, Pennanen and Serola [34], Kumpulainen and Järve-lin [19], Byström and Strindberg [8] and Hansen and Järvelin [13]. By observing searching during work task performance, one learns which information systems are used, how they are used, and what barriers the users encounter.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Task complexity and information searching in administrative tasks revisited

Saastamoinen

Kumpulainen

Järvelin

2012

Proceedings of the 4th Information Interaction in Context Symposium

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In task-based information searching, the task at hand is a central factor affecting information search. Task complexity, in particular, has been discovered to affect searching. In the present study, we shadowed the tasks of seven people working in city administration. The data consist of shadowing field notes, voice recordings, photographs and forms. We study, how task complexity affects information searching and information resource use. Task complexity was defined through the task performer's own experience (perceived task complexity) and her estimates of her a priori knowledge concerning the task. We analyzed the data both qualitatively and quantitatively, focusing on the links between task complexity and the use of information resources, information searching and problems encountered. We found that task complexity has a central but ambiguous relationship to task performance. The clearest differences were found between simple and complex tasks. In addition, perceived task complexity seems to affect the ways of performing the task more than a priori knowledge. The more complex a task is perceived, the more searches are performed and the more they concentrate on networked resources instead of information systems provided by the organization (SPOs). The use of resources on the task performer's PC and the SPOs decreases when complexity increases. In proportion, the use of networked resources and communication resources increases. The total number of information resources used is somewhat greater in complex and semi-complex tasks than in simple tasks; and each resource is used for a longer time on average. Our study shows that task context and especially task complexity seems to affect information searching and the selection of sources.

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Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Task Complexitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Task complexity and information searching in administrative tasks revisited

Saastamoinen

Kumpulainen

Järvelin

2012

Proceedings of the 4th Information Interaction in Context Symposium

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Barriers to task‐based information access in molecular medicine

Kumpulainen

Järvelin

2011

J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci.

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We analyze barriers to task-based information access in molecular medicine, focusing on research tasks, which provide task performance sessions of varying complexity. Molecular medicine is a relevant domain because it offers thousands of digital resources as the information environment. Data were collected through shadowing of real work tasks. Thirty work task sessions were analyzed and barriers in these identified. The barriers were classified by their character (conceptual, syntactic, and technological) and by their context of appearance (work task, system integration, or system). Also, work task sessions were grouped into three complexity classes and the frequency of barriers of varying types across task complexity levels were analyzed. Our findings indicate that although most of the barriers are on system level, there is a quantum of barriers in integration and work task contexts. These barriers might be overcome through attention to the integrated use of multiple systems at least for the most frequent uses. This can be done by means of standardization and harmonization of the data and by taking the requirements of the work tasks into account in system design and development, because information access is seldom an end itself, but rather serves to reach the goals of work tasks.

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Studying PubMed usages in the field for complex problem solving: Implications for tool design

Mirel

Tonks

Song

et al. 2013

J Am Soc Inf Sci Tec

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Many recent studies on MEDLINE-based information seeking have shed light on scientists’ behaviors and associated tool innovations that may improve efficiency and effectiveness. Few if any studies, however, examine scientists’ problem-solving uses of PubMed in actual contexts of work and corresponding needs for better tool support. Addressing this gap, we conducted a field study of novice scientists (14 upper level undergraduate majors in molecular biology) as they engaged in a problem solving activity with PubMed in a laboratory setting. Findings reveal many common stages and patterns of information seeking across users as well as variations, especially variations in cognitive search styles. Based on findings, we suggest tool improvements that both confirm and qualify many results found in other recent studies. Our findings highlight the need to use results from context-rich studies to inform decisions in tool design about when to offer improved features to users.

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Information interaction in molecular medicine

Cited by 30 publications

References 23 publications

Task complexity and information searching in administrative tasks revisited

Task complexity and information searching in administrative tasks revisited

Barriers to task‐based information access in molecular medicine

Studying PubMed usages in the field for complex problem solving: Implications for tool design

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