Behavioral Approach to Design Web Information Retrieval Systems: an Information Science Perspective

The current paper aims to investigate how to design given web information systems especially information retrieval systems regarding the searching behavior of users in real and everyday life world. It is of utmost importance for both users and information providers to use an information system closely designed with regard to human searching behavior. From an Information Science point of view, four approaches in information retrieval systems design were identified: system-centered; user-centered; interactive and cognitive. There exists, however, a serious lack of research related to possible relationship between information behavior and information systems design to date. Traditionally designers have taken human factors but not necessarily human behaviors into account while designing information systems. Unfortunately, there are few systems designed by information scientist aiming to regard or support the human information behavior. Some new techniques and methodologies are now at hand to fill the gap such as Contextual Design and Participatory Design. Implementing a behavioral approach to design information systems are of interest and importance in terms of modern information technologies like social software, web 2.0, mobile phones and internet websites. The studies being conducted recently show a promising future in the area of system design and evaluation in which humans and systems are well adapted together and the systems serve as extensions to human memory. People involved in the design and evaluation of such systems, for example information scientists, must actively approach the phenomenon from their professional perspectives so that a unit of research and practice can be fulfilled, acceptable for both designers and users. The paper introduces new methodologies and research frameworks being investigated, thus applied currently in the area of Information Systems design in which high attention is given to the users situation. The article is also useful in gaining a broad understanding about issues explored not ever presented inclusively in one work.

کلیدواژه ها:

Human Searching Behavior ، Information Retrieval Systems ، Human-computer interaction ، Information Systems ، Information Science