Title
Studying PubMed usages in the field for complex problem solving: Implications for tool design.
Abstract
Many recent studies on MEDLINE-based information seeking have shed light on scientists' behaviors and associated tool innovations that may improve efficiency and effectiveness. Few, if any, studies, however, examine scientists' problem-solving uses of PubMed in actual contexts of work and corresponding needs for better tool support. Addressing this gap, we conducted a field study of novice scientists (14 upper-level undergraduate majors in molecular biology) as they engaged in a problem-solving activity with PubMed in a laboratory setting. Findings reveal many common stages and patterns of information seeking across users as well as variations, especially variations in cognitive search styles. Based on these findings, we suggest tool improvements that both confirm and qualify many results found in other recent studies. Our findings highlight the need to use results from context-rich studies to inform decisions in tool design about when to offer improved features to users.
Year
DOI
Venue
2013
10.1002/asi.22796
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Keywords
Field
DocType
information seeking,end user searching,qualitative research
Data science,Data mining,Information retrieval,Computer science,Information seeking,Complex problem solving,Tool design,Qualitative research,Cognition,MEDLINE
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
64
5
1532-2882
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
3
0.38
41
Authors
6
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Barbara Mirel115216.94
Jean Song2395.68
Jennifer Steiner Tonks330.38
Fan Meng411410.82
Weijian Xuan5574.23
Rafiqa Ameziane630.38