Mental Models for Adaptive Search Systemssss: A Theory for Information

自适应信息系统承诺通过与用户合作来管理搜索的认知负担，从而增加人类寻找信息的能力。用于浏览数据库的高度交互(超文本)系统可以促进自然的、低认知负荷的搜索策略。然而，仍然缺乏设计面向用户的数据组织或面向用户的数据库内容视图的科学基础。这项研究试图测试信息寻找理论的各个方面，该理论可以解释用户与机器交互寻找信息的过程。特别是，通过对这种互动的实验分析，它考察了用户对用于该目的的超文本系统的心理模型的发展和应用。这项研究将有助于形成电子环境中信息搜索的新兴理论，指导适应性信息系统的设计者，并促进人类信息搜索方法和材料的发展。

Adaptive information systems promise to augment human information seeking by cooperating with users to manage the cognitive burden of the search. Highly interactive (hypertext) systems for brows- ing databases can promote natural, low-cognitive load search strategies. Still lacking, however, is a scientific basis for designing user-oriented organizations of data or user-oriented views of database content. This research seeks to test aspects of a theory of information seeking which can explain users' interactions with machines to find information. In particular, through experimental analysis of such interactions it examines users' development and application of mental models of hypertext systems employed for that purpose. The research will contribute to an emerging theory of information seeking in electronic environments, guide designers of adaptive information systems, and facilitate the development of methods and materials for human information seeking.