Query behavior: The impact of health literacy, topic familiarity and terminology

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2013

Authors

Carla Teixeira Lopes (Author) FEUP; Cristina Ribeiro (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)

Pages: 212-223

1st International Conference on Human Factors in Computing and Informatics, SouthCHI 2013

Maribor, 1 July 2013 through 3 July 2013

Indexing

Scopus - 3 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-BTE

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-39062-3_13

Abstract (EN): We conducted a user study to analyze how health literacy, topic familiarity and the terminology used in past queries affect query behavior in health searches. We found that users with inadequate health literacy have less success in web searches and show more difficulties in query formulation. These users and the ones not familiar with the topic use medico-scientific terminology less often than users with more health literacy and topic familiarity. We conclude that search engines should help these groups of users in query formulation and, since technical documents stimulate the use of medico-scientific terminology in query reformulation, mechanisms like query suggestion can have long-term benefits. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific