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Online searching styles: A case‐study‐based model of searching behavior

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  • Raya Fidel

Abstract

The model of operationalist and conceptualist searching styles describes searching behavior of experienced online searchers. It is based on the systematic observation of five experienced online searchers doing their regular, job‐related searches, and on the analysis of 10 to 13 searches conducted by each of them. Operational‐ist searchers aim at optimal strategles to achleve precise retrieval; they use a large range of system capabilities in their interaction. They preserve the specific meaning of the request, and the aim of their iterations is an answer set representing the request precisely. Conceptualist searchers analyze a request by seeking to fit it into a faceted structure. They first enter the facet that represents the most important aspect of the request. Their search is then centered on retrieving subsets from this primary set by introducing additional facets. In contrast to the operationalists, they are primarily concerned with recall. During the interaction they preserve the faceted structure, but may change the specific meaning of the request. Although not comprehensive, the model aids in recognizing special and individual characteristics of searching behavior which provide explanations of previous research and guidelines for further investigations into the search process.

Suggested Citation

  • Raya Fidel, 1984. "Online searching styles: A case‐study‐based model of searching behavior," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 35(4), pages 211-221, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jamest:v:35:y:1984:i:4:p:211-221
    DOI: 10.1002/asi.4630350404
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