A method to capture information encountering embedded in exploratory Web searches

Introduction. This paper reports on a method for closely observing, eliciting and visualizing exploratory search processes with embedded information encountering in context. Method. Exploratory Web search processes of sixteen participants for report task and trip task with thinking aloud in Japanese were captured in video, together with their eye-movements. In post-search interviews, participants' thoughts, feelings and intentions for particular actions at each point of the Web search processes were elicited while showing video-recorded search processes with and without eye-movement. Analysis. Think-aloud and interview data were recorded together with the type of pages viewed, twenty-two eye-gaze points on search results pages, ten search-related actions and the link depth into the annotation tool using time-stamps for sequencing. A qualitative content analysis of the integrated datasets identified thirty instances of information encountering. Results. Information encountering sometimes led to a temporary deviation from the initial task, but may have resulted in a change of the topic of the paper and/or destination of the trip. Conclusions. Results lead to a reconsideration of the definition of information encountering, which may include learning by searching. Showing eye-movement data during the post-search interviews helped participants recall their thoughts at each moment during the search, including information encountering in the context.