Examination of Information Problem Decomposition Strategies: A New Perspective for Understanding Users' Information Problems in Search as Learning
Xiaoyue Zhang, Chang Liu · 2023
When searching for information in search as learning (SAL), users with anomalous state of knowledge often encounter the difficulty in clearly clarifying their information needs. However, it might be easier for them to express their information problems rather than information needs. In this study, we proposed the concept of “information problem decomposition strategies (IPDS)” to help searchers explicitly express their information problems (IPs) as well as to facilitate their information problem solving (IPS) process. To unfold users’ dynamic cognitive process within information problem decomposition process during search, we conducted an experiment, and collected searchers’ sub-information problems through pre-search and post-search questionnaires, experiment recordings, and post-experiment interview. Furthermore, we also proposed a new measurement of learning performance, information problem solving degree, to evaluate how each sub-information problem has been solved during search in order to assess the search performance from the process perspective.