Cross-device Search Topics
Dan Wu, Jing Dong, Shaobo Liang · 2022
In information retrieval evaluation campaigns like The Text REtrieval Conference (TREC), topics are used to describe a search task which is represented by task type and subject. Similarly, the topic in this chapter is a broad term that is close to the concept of task. This chapter explores cross-device search behavior through the characteristics of cross-device search topics. This chapter collects descriptions of real-situation cross-device search experiences by a global crowdsourcing survey. A total of 343 valid responses were used for the content analysis, and the coding scheme was grounded in the Multiple Information Seeking Episodes (MISE) model, which was proposed for explaining successive multiple-episode search. Characteristics of cross-device search topics were uncovered by coded categories of Subject, Type, Complexity of Knowledge Dimension, Complexity of Cognitive Dimension, Environment, Device Switch , and Switching Reasons . The results show the most frequently searched topics are Arts, Shopping, Reference, and Computers. Task types focus on factual tasks, indicating a clear information need. Task complexity depends heavily on the user’s cognition. Eight reasons for switching device are identified in understanding device switch demand. Finally, statistical tests show significant correlations among the characteristics, and a cross-device search topic collection is developed based on the correlation. This chapter will explore cross-device search behavior through the characteristics of cross-device search topics. “Topic” in this chapter is a broad term similar to the concept of task. This chapter will extract attributes of cross-device search topics from real-situation cross-device search experiences by a global crowdsourcing survey.