The effects of topic familiarity on information search behavior

摘要

We describe results from a preliminary investigation of the relationship between topic familiarity and information search behavior. Two types of information search behaviors are considered: reading time and efficacy. Our results indicate that as one's familiarity with a topic increases, one's searching efficacy increases and one's reading time decreases. These results suggest that it may be possible to infer topic familiarity from information search behavior.