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Introduction: This study explores blind users' unique help-seeking situations in interacting with digital libraries. In particular, help-seeking situations were investigated at both the physical and cognitive levels. Method: Fifteen blind participants performed three search tasks, including known- item search, specific information search, and exploratory search, using the selected digital library. Pre-questionnaire, pre- and post-interviews, transaction logs and think-aloud protocols were used to collect data. Analysis: Open coding analysis was used to identify help-seeking situations the physical and cognitive levels. Results: The study identified seventeen help-seeking situations that blind users encountered while using digital libraries, including nine at the physical level and eight at the cognitive level. To be more specific, physical help-seeking situations were categorised into: 1) difficulty accessing information, 2) difficulty identifying current status and path, and 3) difficulty evaluating information efficiently. Cognitive help-seeking situations were classified into: 1) confusion about multiple programs and structures, 2) difficulty understanding information, 3) difficulty understanding or using digital library features, and 4) avoidance of specific formats or approaches. Conclusion: The identified help-seeking situations reveal a gap between current digital library design practices and special needs of blind users. Practical implications for the design of help features for more blind-friendly digital libraries are suggested based on the findings.

This is the first study that compares types of orientation tactics that blind and sighted users applied in their initial interactions with a digital library (DL) and the associated factors. Multiple methods were employed for data collection: questionnaires, think-aloud protocols, and transaction logs. The paper identifies seven types of orientation tactics applied by the two groups of users. While sighted users focused on skimming DL content, blind users concentrated on exploring DL structure. Moreover, the authors discovered 13 types of system, user, and interaction factors that led to the use of orientation tactics. More system factors than user factors affect blind users' tactics in browsing DL structures. The findings of this study support the social model that the sightcentered design of DLs, rather than blind users' disability, prohibits them from effectively interacting with a DL. Simultaneously, the results reveal the limitation of existing interactive information retrieval models that do not take people with disabilities into consideration. DL design implications are discussed based on the identified factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Previous research has demonstrated that task is the driving force for information retrieval (IR). However, few studies investigate how people engaged in work and search tasks define their decisions and behaviors in the IR process. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how dimensions of tasks affect the information-seeking and retrieving process. Design/methodology/approach - In total, 40 participants are recruited for the two studies conducted in a corporate setting as well as an academic setting. Multiple methods are applied to collect data related to participants' tasks and the information-seeking and retrieving process: web surveys, questionnaires, diaries, and telephone interviews. Both qualitative and quantitative data are analyzed. Findings - This paper identifies nature (routine, typical, and unusual), stages (pre-focus, formation, and post-focus), and timeframe (extremely urgent, urgent, and non-urgent) as dimensions of work tasks as well as origination (self-generated and assigned), types (updating information, looking for specific information, looking for items with common characteristics, and looking for known items), and flexibility (very flexible, flexible, and inflexible) as dimensions of search tasks. Moreover, the relationships between dimensions of work and search tasks and the information-seeking process - in particular, the extent of planning, the application of different types of information-seeking strategies, and shifts in search-task-related goals - are explored. Originality/value - This paper fills in a gap in current research - the impact of dimensions of task on the information-seeking and -retrieving process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Evaluation plays an important role in users' information searching and retrieving processes. While previous research mainly focuses on applied criteria, less research is on other dimensions of evaluation. This study explores the dimensions of evaluation activities including criteria applied, elements examined, activity engaged in and time spent in evaluating individual documents. Method. Conducting their own tasks, thirty-one participants with different demographic backgrounds, participated in the study. Multiple data collection methods were used: pre-questionnaires, interaction diaries, think-aloud protocols, transaction logs and post-questionnaires. Analysis. Types of evaluation criteria, elements, evaluation activities and their associated pre- and post-activities were analysed by open-coding. Descriptive analysis was applied to analyse the most and least time spent on individual documents with associated factors. Results. The findings of this study reveal that evaluation activities are complicated and dynamic. Eighteen types of evaluation criteria, seven types of evaluation elements, six types of evaluation activities and their associated pre- and post-activities were identified. In addition, factors affecting time spent in evaluating individual documents were analysed. Conclusions. The authors offer suggestions for information retrieval system design to support effective evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]