Human Information Interaction

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Background and Aim: This research aimed to study emotions attribution style of users in information retrieval based on Weiner's theory.

Methods: The survey method was used in this study. Population consisted of graduate students in humanities at Imam Reza (AS) International University. Sample of 72 students was selected.  Data was collected by attribution style questionnaire (ASQ) and two researcher made questionnaires.

Results: Research findings showed that users attributed success and failure in information retrieval to internal causes. Also, consistent with Wiener theory, users attribute success to attempts and failure to inability and insufficient effort. On the other hand, it was found that there is significant relationship between users overall attribution style and information retrieval attribution style.

Conclusion: It can be determined that style of user attribution in information retrieval would strengthen correct attributions and destroys incorrect attributions in information retrieval and thereby provided better information retrieval.

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Purpose: the aim was to identify users' search strategies and the rate of using search strategies on the web.

Method: It is a practical survey. The statistical population included all the postgraduate students in the first semester at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. 95 students were selected by stratified random sampling method. To gather the data, log files were used.

Findings: 12 search strategies were identified which was divided into 5 general categories. Iterative evaluation strategy in another tab was a new form of evaluation strategy of results. Among all, starting search strategies were the most commonly used category which were repeated 397 times, and the search results evaluation strategies were ranked afterward, with 321 replications. The category of Simultaneous multiple resource access strategies, with 77 repetitions, were also the least used strategies, but in particular, the recurring exploration strategy, with 21 repetitions, was the least applicable strategy. Conducting correlation test between strategies showed that some of Pearson's correlation coefficients were significant. The strongest relationship was between the starting search strategies and the search result evaluation strategies with a 0.591 correlation coefficient.

Discussion: The results showed that the majority of students used traditional and simple strategies, such as the formulation of search terms strategy and the iterative result evaluation strategy, and they used more complex strategies in few cases. These results showed that the students need to be trained in using strategies.

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Background and Aim: Mind map is a full-color illustrated note-taking in which, main idea or subject is situated. The main ideas then branch out from the center, which are linked to the central idea. This is a relatively new topic, and slight research has been conducted to show its effectiveness worldwide. The aim is to examine the effectiveness of mind maps in the information retrieval process.
Method: This is an applied in terms of purpose and in order to collect information about the familiarity and use of graduate students with mind maps by survey method. The present study also investigates the effect of mental map tools on quasi-experimental information retrieval. The statistical population of the present study includes all graduate students (Master and PhD) of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2016-2017, in four areas: humanities, basic sciences, engineering and agricultural sciences. The statistical sample size of the first phase of the research includes 224 graduate students and 127 doctoral students. The total size of the laboratory population is 30 people. The sampling method of the first stage is stochastic research of relative classes. The sample size of the second stage of the laboratory is purposeful. A questionnaire was used to collect data in this study. Cronbach's alpha of questionnaire number one is more than 0.8 and questionnaire number two and three is more than 7%.
Results: Analysis show that the level of familiarity with mind maps and its use by graduate students at Ferdowsi University is below average. The average overall level search satisfaction with the whole search process in the second stage (3.833) is higher than the first stage (3.704). The average effectiveness of the whole search process in the second stage - with the help of mental map (359/3) is more than the first stage of the search process - without mental map (2.332).
Conclusion: Mind maps are effective tools in the process of information retrieval that can be used with careful, purposeful planning and in consultation with experts in the field of information retrieval and information science. Information systems, search engines, information needs, etc. are among the areas in which mind maps can be examined.