Human Information Interaction

Background and Aim: this study aimed to explore the impact of objective complexity and Product of work task on user's interactive information searching behavior.

Method: The research population consisted of MSc students of Ferdowsi university of Mashhad enrolled in 2012-13 academic year. In 3 stages of sampling (random stratified, quota, and voluntary sampling), 30 cases were selected. Each of these cases searched 6 different types of simulated work tasks. Students’ Interactive Information searching behavior was measured by “loud thinking reports” and “log files”. Also, reliable questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha= 0.88) was applied to measure subjective complexity. Validity of tools was verified through Faculties of KIS at Ferdowsi university of Mashhad.

Results: By increasing level of objective complexity, users view more databases, search engines and web OPACs. Also they use more queries and select resources, visit and analyze more results and spend more time during search process. Totally, they feel less satisfaction and success. It was also found that most participants spend more time to search IR systems related to tasks including intellectual product. Also, they iterate queries, use more search facilities, view, analyze and select more search results and resources. At the end, in spite of more interaction, satisfaction and perception of search success were reported not favorable.

Conclusion: It is necessary to pay attention to work task characteristics in designing interactive and personalized IR systems. So, recommendations raised from this study are appropriate to improve and develop Interactive IR systems.

Background and Aim: Since anyone can freely share any kinds of information in the cyberspace almost without authenticity, validation information seems important. This paper examines the concept of credibility and describes and analyzes some well-known models for the evaluation of the Web credibility.
Methods: This research is a review in terms of research methodology and theoretical in terms of the goal. Data collection was using documentary method.
Results: The assessment of known models of Web Credibility including prominence-interpretation theory of Fogg, Wathen and Burkell’s model for how users judge the credibility of on-line information, Hilligoss and Rieh’s unifying framework of credibility, Sundar’s MAIN model, Metzger’s dual processing model of credibility assessment, Lucassen et al.’s revised 3S-model of credibility, and Choi new framework for web credibility showed that the systematic concept of the connection between credit key dimensions and criteria that can be used to assess the credibility of the Web exists in none of these models other than Choi and thus the templates and the theories have limited explanatory power for a comprehensive interpretation of findings of experimental studies.
Conclusion: Due to lack of imperical testing of these theoretical frameworks through standard tools on a large scale, no one was empirically supported. Thus, it is necessary to examine these frameworks empirically to improve their validity with an experimental basis.