TOOLS FOR COMPLEX INFORMATION RETREIVAL TASK MANAGEMENT

摘要

This paper describes user interface tools for the management of complex info-seeking tasks in the legal and medical domains. We provide evidence that search histories can support the planning, management, and execution of complex knowledge-intensive tasks of information seekers. In prior research (Komlodi, 2002; 2004), both user reports and researcher observations revealed that searchers need this type of historical information in managing complex, knowledge-intensive information-seeking tasks, but find it hard to remember all historical information that is necessary. To complement their memory, information seekers often create external search history representations. We carried out an evaluation of the utility of two search history tools in planning, managing, and executing complex information retrieval (IR) tasks. In this paper we present evidence that search history tools are useful for search task management. We further present certain differences between usefulness and usability of the two tools that help us identify features that are important for task management.