Week+2+Notes

=Week 2 – July 9, 2011= =NOTES=

Week 2 Slideshows via My GoogleDocs > >
 * Using the Internet for Reference
 * The Questions & Questions Lecture
 * Introduction to Research: Week 4

Kuhlthau, C. C. (1991) Inside the search process: Information seeking from the user’s perspective. //Journal of the American Society for Information Science//, 42(5), 361-371. > The article discusses the users' perspective of information seeking. A model of the information search process is presented derived from a series of five studies investigating common experiences of users in information seeking situations. The cognitive and affective aspects of the process of information seeking suggest a gap between the users' natural process of information use and the information system and intermediaries' traditional patterns of information provision. © 1991 John Wiley & Sons, Inc." > > 3. Exploration - "The task is to investigate information on the general topic in order to extend personal understanding...At this stage an inability to express precisely what information is needed makes communication between the user and the system awkward." > 4. Formulation - "The task is to form a focus from the information encountered...A focus in the search process is comparable to a hypothesis in the process of construction." > 5. Collection - "At this point, the task is to gather information related to the focused topic." > 6. Presentation - "At this point, the task is to gather information related to the focused topic." > > | | | > > "This manner of envisioning and describing the state of the user’s problem may lead to radical changes in traditional patterns of filtering information needs. The reference interview, for example, might be adapted to identify unique information needs at each point in the search process." > > | | | > "ISP. The model of the ISP may be incorporated into user education programs, to enable people to become aware of their own evolving process and understand feelings which affect their information use." > > | | | > "This research is unique in that it goes beyond the cognitive aspects of information seeking to examine the feelings users commonly experience. As one participant noted, “Uncertainty is in the head but anxiety is in the pit of the stomach.” The whole experience of users affects their information use, their feelings as well as their intellect, particularly in the exploration stage. By neglecting to address affective aspects, information specialists are overlooking one of the main elements driving information use." > >
 * "Abstract
 * **Lingering Question:** Have there been any similar studies to get insights into cross-cultural experiences of users undergoing the information search process (e.g. Spanish-speaking users seeking information within a library serving primarily English-speaking patrons?)
 * **Point of Interest:** While in a way it is quite intuitive, I found Kuhlthau's comments regarding the fact that if the user is aware of an information seeking process model that takes into account one's feelings or comfort level (such as the 6-stage Kuhlthau model), the user can find experience re-assurance and better acceptance of the natural anxiety experienced by (apparently) everyone at some point during the ISP. For educators and library professionals, this can be a selling point when presenting the Kuhlthau ISP-model: //“It's ok to feel anxious or want to throw your entire idea out the window... it's a natural part of the process...”//
 * NOTES:
 * Six Stages of the Information Search Process (ISP) (Feelings/Task/Thoughts/Actions of each stage) (366-367)
 * 1. Initiation - "when a person first becomes aware of a lack of knowledge or understanding..."2. Selection - "the task is to identify and select the general topic to be investigated or the approach to be pursued."

Bates, M. J. (1989). The design of browsing and berrypicking techniques for the online search interface. //Online Review//, 13(5), 407-24. Retrieved from []
 * **Lingering Question:** Have any online databases employed a metaphor of the physical library in an effective manner that allows for browsing?
 * **Point of Interest:** Google Scholar reveals 902 citations of this particular article, 35 of which were published in 2011, which tells me that the ideas presented by Bates in 1989 are still very relevant today. From this article and the Kuhlthau article above, I get the sense the user-centered seeking behavior was largely ignored for a long time, perhaps in favor of models that are simpler and more convenient for researchers, despite the fact that real-life behaviors did not adhere to the traditional models.

> > | | | > > "Here I want to challenge the [classic information retrieval] model as a whole--to the effect that it represents some searches, but not all, perhaps not even the majority, and that with respect to those it does represent, it frequently does so inadequately. As a formal model for testing, it has taught us much; as a realistic representation of actual searches, it has many limitations. As a consequence, as long as this model dominates information science thinking, it will limit our creativity in developing IR systems that really meet user needs and preferences." > > | | | > "So throughout the process of information retrieval evaluation under the the classic model, the query is treated as a single unitary, one-time conception of the problem. Though this assumption is useful for simplifying IR system research, real-life searches frequently do not work this way." > > | | | > > "In real-life searches in manual sources, end users may begin with just one feature of a broader topic, or just one relevant reference, and move through a variety of sources. Each new piece of information they encounter gives them new ideas and directions to follow and, consequently, a new conception of the query. At each stage they are not just modifying the search terms used in order to get a better match for a single query. Rather the query itself (as well as the search terms used) is continually shifting, in part or whole. This type of search is here called an evolving search. > > Furthermore, at each stage, with each different conception of the query, the user may identify useful information and references. In other words, the query is satisfied not by a single final retrieved set, but by a series of selections of individual references and bits of information at each stage of the ever-modifying search. A bit-at-a-time retrieval of this sort is here called berrypicking. This term is used by analogy to picking huckleberries or blueberries in the forest. The berries are scattered on the bushes; they do not come in bunches. One must pick them one at a time. One could do berrypicking of information without the search need itself changing (evolving), but in this article the attention is given to searches that combine both of these features." > > | | | > > 6 examples of strategies used for real-life searching ... > > Footnote Chasing (backward chaining) > Citation Searching (forward chaining) > Journal Run (once a journal with desireable content is identified, searching through relevant years... "In effect, this approach exploits Bradford's Law: the core journals in a subject area are going to have very high rates of relevant materials in that area.") > Area Scanning ("Browsing the materials that are physically collocated with materials located earlier in a search is a widely used and effective technique.") > Subject searches in bibliographies/abstracts/indexes > Author searches ("But author searching can be an effective part of subject searching as well, when a searcher uses an author name to see if the author has done any other work on the same topic...") > > | | | > "It is part of the nature of berrypicking that people adapt the strategy to the particular need at the moment; as the need shifts in part or whole, the strategy often shifts as well--at least for effective searchers." > > | | | > "To summarize the argument to this point, this model of searching differs from the traditional one not only in that it reflects evolving, berrypicking searches, but also searches in a much wider variety of sources, and using a much wider variety of search techniques than has been typically represented in information retrieval models to date. With this broader picture of information retrieval in mind, many new design possibilities open up. In the next section, some of those possibilities will be examined, with particular attention to the role of browsing in the broader search process." > | | | > "The physical metaphor of the library that was suggested above may facilitate such searching particularly well. For example, if the interface can produce a picture on the screen that looks like the books on a shelf, the searcher can transfer a familiar experience to the automated system. If then, a mouse or similar device makes it possible to, in effect, move among the books, a familiar physical experience is reproduced and the searcher can take advantage of well-developed browsing skills. Until the full texts of books are online, the searcher may examine extensive subject information about the book, such as contents lists, index entries, and the like..." >
 * ABSTRACT - "First, a new model of searching in online and other information systems, called "berrypicking," is discussed. This model, it is argued, is much closer to the real behavior of information searchers than the traditional model of information retrieval is, and, consequently, will guide our thinking better in the design of effective interfaces. Second, the research literature of manual information seeking behavior is drawn on for suggestions of capabilities that users might like to have in online systems. Third, based on the new model and the research on information seeking, suggestions are made for how new search capabilities could be incorporated into the design of search interfaces. Particular attention is given to the nature and types of browsing that can be facilitated."
 * Notes

Gong, H., Japzon, A., & Chen, C. (2008). Public libraries and social capital in three New York City neighborhoods. //Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie//, 99(1), 65-83. Retrieved from []
 * **Lingering Question:** Would the results have been much different had the surveys been conducted on various weekdays? For instance, while working at the St. Joseph County Public Library, (South Bend, IN) several years ago, upon the decision to close all branches on the weekends due to budgetary shortfalls, it became clear from direct feedback that some patrons are weekend users and others are weekday users? Perhaps the results would have been a bit different depending on the time of year the surveys were taken (school year versus summer break, for instance)?
 * **Point of Interest:** The notion of growing social capital provides a useful label or “catch phrase” for justifying the funding of special programs that may not be directly linked to traditional functions of libraries (or any organization wishing to leverage its influence within the community on a local level).

> This study uses the social capital concept to explain geographical variation in public library use. Applying Putnam's social capital theory, we examine how social capital in three New York City neighborhoods affects usage of local branch libraries. A survey was conducted to understand differences in public library use and social capital in the neighborhoods. Diversity and segregation indices were included as additional measures of social capital. The study found that neighborhoods with higher levels of social capital, especially bridging social capital, tend to have higher public library use." > ||| > > Per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_capital : "Social capital is a sociological concept, which refers to connections within and between social networks. Though there are a variety of related definitions, which have been described as "something of a cure-all"[1] for the problems of modern society, they tend to share the core idea "that social networks have value." > > Per http://www.robertamsterdam.com/2007/10/russia_facing_a_social_capital.htm - measures/indicators of social capital > > ||| > "To sum up the discussion, how social capital should be measured remains a keenly discussed topic (Saguaro Seminar 2005) and is central to the applicability of the social capital theory." > ||| > "We believe that the extents of racial/ethnic diversity and segregation reflect the level of social capital in these neighborhoods. The high diversity and the low segregation indices in Flushing are results of coexistence and mixing of different racial/ethnic groups within the neighborhood and are indications of high level of bridging social capital. It is likely that without a high level of bridging social capital, the diverse Flushing residents would not have coexisted peacefully and successfully in the neighborhood. The bridging social capital was established in the long process of Flushing residents interacting, understanding and adjusting to each other, in which the diversity in Flushing created demands for social interaction and connections and the low segregation facilitated them by minimizing the spatial friction." > > >
 * "Abstract

Jones, D. Y. (2006). Oversized and underused: Size matters in academic libraries. //College and Research Libraries//, 67(4), 325-33. > >
 * **Lingering Question:** Jones' survey questions are somewhat long and complex in nature. Would she have had different results if she would have broken down some of the parenthetical comments into separate questions?
 * **Point of Interest:** Jones' library could not possibly be a rare example of a library looking to research on the ideal organization method for oversized collections, yet her article indicates she found only a single article on this seemingly mundane topic. For the library professional, this suggests that there are numerous projects and activities that take place within libraries everyday that could provide valuable insights to other library professionals, yet they are not documented in the library literature. Therefore, nearly any project undertaken at one's library could be considered as potential fodder for writing a professional article or at least a blog entry; especially projects that are not well-documented within the library literature.
 * Notes: "Abstract: Data on the collection size, shelving, and usage of oversize books in the general library collection was requested using an e-mail survey targeted at fifty U.S. liberal arts college libraries. Typical size of oversize collections ranged from a few hundred to almost 200,000 volumes, with a median collection size of 6,359 and median percentage oversize of 1.6 percent. When the percentage circulation within the oversize collection was compared with the percentage circulation within the general collection, statistically significantly lower circulation was evident for oversize volumes (one-sided P=0.02), with a surprisingly small median difference of 3 percent. Reprinted by permission of the publisher."

Bookstein, Abraham. "On the Complexities of Asking Questions: Difficulties in Interpretation of Library Surveys." In Library Effectiveness: A State of the Art, 35-48. New York: ALA/Library Administration and Management Association, 1980. [Oncourse]

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G. & Williams, J. M. (2003). The Craft of Research. Second Edition. Chapters 3 & 4. Pages 40-72. [Oncourse]

Text: P: 3, 7, 9-10, 13, 17, 19, 21, 61-80

Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Methods [handout available on Oncourse]

Due:
 * Search Strategy Assignment