Domain-specific search strategies for the effective retrieval of healthcare and shopping information

ABSTRACT

An increasing number of users are performing searches on the Web in unfamiliar domains such as healthcare. However, because many users lack domain-specific search knowledge, their searches are often ineffective. An important remedy is to make domain-specific search knowledge in these new domains explicit and available. Towards that goal, healthcare and online shopping experts were observed while they performed search tasks within and outside their domains of expertise. The study: (1) identified domain-specific search strategies in each domain; (2) demonstrated that such knowledge is not automatically acquired from using general-purpose search engines. These results suggest that users should benefit from Strategy Portals that provide domain-specific knowledge to perform searches in unfamiliar domains.

REFERENCES

• 1: N. J. Belkin , H. M. Brooks , P. J. Daniels, Knowledge elicitation using discourse analysis, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, v.27 n.2, p.127-144, August 1987 [doi>10.1016/S0020-7373(87)80047-0]
• 2: Biermann, J.S., Golladay, G.J., Greenfield, M.L. and Baker, L. H. Evaluation of cancer information on the Internet. Cancer, 86, 3 (1999), 381--90.
• 3: Fox, S., Raini, L. The online health care revolution: How the Web helps Americans take better care of themselves. Pew Internet and American live project: Online life report available at http://www.pewinternet.org/ (2000).
• 4: Xie, H. Planned and situated aspects in interactive IR: Patterns of use, interactive intentions and information seeking strategies. Proceedings of the 60th ASIS annual meeting, (1997), 101--110.

INDEX TERMS

Keywords:
domain-specific search strategies, healthcare, shopping