Analytical Search Strategies

Analytical Search Strategies” was the title of chapter five in the Information Seeking in Electronic Environments book. The book was written by Gary Marchionin, and published in 1995 by Cambridge University press. In this chapter, the author highlights some of the factors that influence novice and expert users, adult and children searchers, high school, undergrad, and graduate students while they use electronic search systems. Marchionin (1995) states that a single information system may be utilized by different types of users. He added that information systems should give diverse search options in order to satisfy vast ranges of information searches and needs. Furthermore, he states that individual differences, level of experience, and nature of information task are the main factors that affect the usability level of search systems (Marchionin, 1995). At the same time, the frequent use of these systems and familiarity can be counted as another important factor. Novice searchers use information systems differently than experts. Also, adult, children, and students in different levels use different tactics with their searches. The author reveals that taking the advantage of analytical strategies and Boolean operators are difficult to be used and, therefore, most novice end users do not prefer them.

Marchionin (1995) found that giving a good training is essential for users to effectively apply different search strategies; consequently, this will allow users to complete their searches with accurate results. He added that good training along with basic understanding of the search and databases is imperative “to apply analytical strategies, users were required to learn at least a minimal set of search commands, simple Boolean logic, and some basic principles of databases organization” (p.86). Although a good training will enhance the search strategies for the users, writing a correct command without a mistake is still unavoidable. The author discusses an alternative solution to avoid syntax and command mistakes. Instead of typing search commands, a developed interface can facilitate this process by offering “precise instructions and help” (Meadow, 1992, as cited in Marchionin, 1995). The suggested interface was called front-ends. Marchionin found that these front-ends “help information seekers employ analytical strategies” (p.86). The main purpose of these systems is to simplify the process of the search by giving the user the option of using menus and form fill-ins. Thus, users are able to select analytical and Boolean strategies from lists instead of typing. Researchers found that users of these systems “conducted successful searches using the interface” (Meadow, Cherry, Borgman, & Case, 1989, as cited in Marchionin, 1995). In my opinion, users’ experience and prior knowledge are the main factors in applying a successful search that return a correct results. Even with these advanced systems, if the users do not understand the purpose of different strategies, he or she may not be able to use them appropriately. There is a deference between “And” and “Or”, “+” and “-”, and many other symbols that require users to be well-trained in order to use them remarkably.

Marchionini, Gary. 1995. Analytical search strategies. In Information seeking in electronic environments. New York: Cambridge University Press. [ch. 5: 76-99]