Dissertation Information for Mei-Mei Wu NAME: - Mei-Mei Wu
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Rutgers University (USA) (1992)
ADVISORS: - Nicholas Belkin
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - None
MPACT Status: Incomplete - Inspected
Title: Information interaction dialogue: A study of patron elicitation in the information retrieval interaction
Abstract: Patron studies have become a key issue in Information Retrieval (IR) research since a shift of research domain in the mid '80s. The individual characteristics in relation to the patron's information seeking behavior have been the focus of many researchers. The patron's Elicitations during the process of retrieval interaction--the micro-level of information seeking behavior--has not been explored. An Elicitation is defined as a request for information in conversation. A request for information is a voluntary way to reveal one's interests, concerns, perplexity, or problems. A systematic investigation of patron Elicitations seems to suggest a direct approach to understanding patrons. In addition, it is a promising source for intermediaries to form a dynamic user model, since patron Elicitation is an ongoing process in interaction.
The aim of the study is to understand patron Elicitation behavior during the process of the information retrieval interaction. The research questions are: (1) What are patron Elicitation purposes? (2) When, during the interaction are Elicitations most likely to occur? (3) Do patrons differ from intermediaries in terms of Elicitation frequency? and (4) What major contextual factors affect patron Elicitation behavior? Research methods include discourse analysis, content analysis and statistical analysis. The Elicitation, the stages of research and search, and the unit of utterance are defined. 852 patrons' and 861 intermediaries' Elicitations are identified from a total of thirty-eight information interaction encounters. The purposes of patron Elicitations are specified and classified into ten categories. Patrons are then grouped according to their Elicitation behavior in terms of three approaches: (1) H-fre and L-fre questioners (Elicitation frequency); (2) High-cat, Mid-cat, and Low-cat (the number of categories used) patrons; and (3) Active and non-active questioners (cluster analysis of categories frequency). Quantitative analysis is applied to the relationship between patron Elicitation behavior and the individual difference factors.
The results reveal that patrons ask more questions than intermediaries in the search stage. Patron Elicitation frequency has a significant correlation with the length of interaction in terms of actual time spent and the number of utterances exchanged. However, intermediary Elicitation frequency does not show such a correlation. Patron Elicitations are suggested as legitimate sources for user modeling; the categories of patron Elicitation purposes provide an understanding of patrons' unique concerns which have not been addressed in other studies. Some individual and situational factors (the patron's status, age, online search experience and the length of interaction) reveal an impact on patron Elicitation behavior, which suggest patron Elicitation behavior does not occur randomly and deserve further study.
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MPACT Scores for Mei-Mei Wu A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:10:04
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