This document discusses several models of information seeking behavior. It describes Kuhlthau's Information Search Process model, which outlines six stages of information seeking from task initiation to search closure. It also covers Ellis' behavioral model identifying eight information seeking patterns, Marchionini's problem-solving model of parallel processes, Wilson's problem-solving model moving from uncertainty to certainty, Belkin's Anomalous State of Knowledge theory focusing on knowledge gaps, and Bates' berrypicking model where search changes direction as new information is found.

1. Information Seeking Processes
and Models
Mr.Umrav Singh
Fall 2016

2. Charting your information seeking
 Class Activity
 On a piece of paper, chart your
information seeking process from the
time you have an information need to
fulfill to the time it is met or unmet.

3. Information Seeking
 Process of finding information to fill a
knowledge gap
 Need information to make a decision
 Need to learn about something
 Need to answer a question
 Need to increase own knowledge about a
subject of interest
 Need information to fill other needs

4. Information Seeking
 User interaction with IRs and sources
to negotiate information need:
 Consult a professional human
intermediary
 User mediation/reference process
 Consult friends, colleagues, classmates
 Self-service

5. Information Seeking Models
 Represent how people search for
information in specific environments
and how they interact with IRs and/or
traditional sources to satisfy
information needs
 Models vary based on what
researchers investigate
 Commonality across user information
seeking

6. Information Seeking Models
 Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process
Model
 Ellis’ Behavioral Model
 Marchionini’s Information Process Model
 Wilson’s Problem-Solving Model
 Belkin’s Anomalous State of Knowledge
(ASK)
 Bate’s Berrypicking model

7. Kuhlthau’s ISP Model
 Information Search Process model
(ISP)
 Based on five studies in naturalistic
settings
 Emphasis on user thoughts, feelings,
and actions rather than on systems
 Undergraduate students; validated
with high school students

8. Kuhlthau’s ISP Model
 Information search process from the
user’s perspectives Six stages:
1. Task initiation
2. Topic selection
3. Prefocus exploration
4. Focus formulation
5. Information collection
6. Search closure
See Kuhlthau’s 2004 article, pp. 44-50.

9. Ellis’ Behavioral Model
 David Ellis describes 8 information seeking
patterns of social scientists, physical
scientists, and engineers in using hypertext
(e.g., the Web).
1. Starting (Surveying)
2. Chaining
3. Monitoring
4. Browsing
5. Differentiating (Distinguishing)
6. Filtering
7. Extracting
8. Verifying
9. Ending

10. Ellis’ Model
See D. Turnball, 2.1.1.1-2.1.1.2.

11. Marchionini’s Model
 Problem solving approach to understanding
information seeking process in the
electronic environment
 Eight processes that may work in parallel:
 Problem recognition, Problem definition,
Selection of system/source, Problem articulation
(query formulation), Search execution,
Examination of results, Extraction of desired
information; Reflection, Iteration, and Stopping
of search process

12. Wilson’s Problem-Solving Model
 T.D. Wilson’s 1997 model
 Goal-directed towards problem solving
 Based on a survey of research in the
health field
 Users move from uncertainty to certainty
through the problem-resolution process

13. Wilson’s Problem-Solving Model
 Stages:
 Problem identification
 Problem definition
 Problem resolution
 Solution statement
 Model has affective dimensions
 Stages are sequential and non-linear

14. Belkin’s ASK Theory
 ASK (Anomalous State of Knowledge)
“The cognitive and situational aspects
that were the reason for seeking
information and approaching an IR
system” (Saracevic, 1996).
 Knowledge gap (anomaly) and the
need to solve it

15. ASK Model
 Definition
 A recognition by an individual that his/her
model of some aspect of the external world
and of her/her position in it with respect to
some particular situation is insufficient and
knowledge is needed to reduce uncertainty
 Contributions of ASK
 Reinforced the certainty of the user’s needs

16. ASK Model
 Recognized the iterative nature of information
retrieval
 users return to the IR system repeatedly to
satisfy their information needs
 Move towards system design that is user-
rather than system-centered (people rather
than documents)

17. Bate’s Berrypicking Model
 Marcia Bates examined the search
behavior of researchers who were
experts in a particular field (e.g.,
engineers, chemists, social
scientists)
 Researchers do not make a single
search across collections…

18. Bate’s Berrypicking Model
 they move across a variety of sources as
follows:
 Bit-at-a-time retrieval: not a direct route from
information need to final retrieved set.
 Searching changes direction, pauses, and
meanders as the user reads retrieved
documents, follows up on leads, and responds to
shifts in thinking.
 New information gives users new ideas, new
directions to pursue, and a new conception of
their information needs.

19. Bate’s Berrypicking Model
 Researchers’ information needs and the
queries they use to represent them these
needs in systems are continually
shifting: evolving search, dynamic, non-
linear

20. Bates’ Berrypicking Model
 User information needs are not
the same and they do change
during the search process