This document proposes a model of hedonic browsing to enhance exploratory search using social tagging tools. It suggests that perceived enjoyment and curiosity have a positive impact on exploratory behavior in social tagging systems. An exploratory study of 38 respondents was conducted using structural equation modeling to identify relationships between measured explorability and latent variables of enjoyment and curiosity. Results found a strong positive association between exploratory behavior and experiences of enjoyment and curiosity when using social tagging. However, the study had limitations as a small pilot test and future research could further test the composite hedonic factors.

1. Enhancing Exploratory Search with Hedonic BrowsingUsing Social Tagging ToolsHesham Allam, James Blustein,Louise Spiteri, & Michael Bliemel2nd International Workshop on Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

2. AgendaIntroductionDefinitionsExploratory SearchSocial TaggingProposed Hedonic ModelMethodResults and ImplicationsStudy Limitations and Future Research2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

3. Exploratory Search is…A complex set of search activitieswithin an Information Retrieval systemUsed to broadly explore a topic of interest (Wilson, 2007)Used whenSearch goal is not clearSearching for something complexSearchers are not satisfied with results from traditional search systems2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

4. Social Tagginga feature of various online social networksto organize information elementsby enabling people to label, annotate, or tag info resourcesMain uses of tagging tools:To organize resources using the WWWWebsites in Delicious and StumbleUpon Photos in Flickr Music and video files in Last.fm and YouTube Books in Amazon.com and LibraryThingFor information discovery, sharing, and social ranking2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

5. Proposed Model (Hedonic Search)2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)Perceived EnjoymentH1ExploratoryBehaviourCuriosityH2H1: Perceived enjoyment has a positive impact on exploration of social tagging H2: Curiosity has a positive impact on exploration of social tagging

6. MethodSince our study is exploratory in essence, we used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)SEM is an approach used for identifying and estimating models of linear relationships among measured (Explorability) and latent variables (Enjoyment and Curiosity)We also used the bootstrapping approach to assess the t-value significance (in our case t-value = 3.57 for p≤0.01).2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

7. MethodExploratory study  Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)For identifying and estimating models of linear relationships among measured (Explorability) and latent variables (Enjoyment and Curiosity)We also used the bootstrappingTo assess the t-value significance(in our case t-value = 3.57 for p≤0.01).2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

8. MethodSurvey Questions Used Covering Hedonic Factors2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

9. Respondents’ Profiles(N = 38)2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

10. Systems Reported2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

11. Pearson Correlations2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)** highly significant ( p<0.001)

12. Structural Model2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)p<0.01

13. ResultsStrong positive association between exploratory behaviour and experiences of enjoyment and curiosity when using social tagging 2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)Implications Hedonic aspect could be used to motivate workers

14. Use of collaborative tagging intelligence

15. Greater efficiency and effectivenessCaveatsPilot test only (N=38)Only some tagging systems reportedNo info on proprietary or purpose-built systemsNot all from one organisationThe current constructs were based on few questions2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

16. Future DirectionsTest the composite (2-dimensional) hedonic factor on attitude and the intention to use social tagging toolsAssociate the hedonic dimensions with other factors such as ease of use, usefulness and measure its influence on the actual use of social tagging toolsFurther analysis is in a forthcoming article2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)

17. 2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)Questions?

18. 2011-10-09Modeling Social Media (MSM 2011)To appear in HICSS 2012