Task difficulty as a predictor and indicator of web searching interaction
Jeonghyun Kim · 2006
This study explored how the perception of task difficulty affects information searching interaction. We analyzed how the relationship between perceived task difficulty and information searching interaction varies by different types of tasks. These types were factual task, interpretive task, and exploratory task. The implications of the results are twofold. In the first place, we can illuminate some general agreement about the relationship between task difficulty and actual searching behavior. Considering the statistical significance of differences in task difficulty and searching behavior measures enables this. We can also explain the disagreement of relationship, if any, by analyzing factors identified as underlying the difficulty of a task.