User Knowledge And Search Satisfaction: The Mediating Role Of User Search Behaviour
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Date
2011-08
Authors
Mat Yamin, Fadhilah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Information overload is critical situation faced by user when searching information on the World Wide Web (WWW). Information overload increase searching time and effort, thus increases users search cost. Normally, information searching on the web begins with entering the query into the search engine. Typically, the query is related to the users’ knowledge. In this study two types of knowledge were identified; topic understanding and search system understanding. The searching is driven by the user’s behaviour. In this study, search behaviour is conceptualized as the way user formulate the query. Two query strategies that were identified are breadth search query and depth search query. This research postulates that user knowledge and user search behaviour plays an important role in reducing information overload problem and contributes to the search satisfaction. Supported by the Norman and Broder model, this research investigates how user knowledge gives impact on search satisfaction. This research also examines the mediating effects of user search behaviour on the relationship between user knowledge and search satisfaction. Data was collected through lab survey and a total of 131 usable responses, representing 67.2% of the total sample are analyzed. Findings from this research confirmed that the construct of user knowledge (topic understanding and web search system understanding) and user search behaviour (breadth search query and depth search query) are statistically significant predictors of search satisfaction, whereas user knowledge is a determinant of user search behaviour.
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Keywords
User Knowledge , Search Behaviour