An empirical study on web search behavior through the investigation of a user-clustered query session

Abstract

Web search behavior is being diversified. And the diversification of web search behavior makes query both sporadic and non-sequential. In this case, it is difficult to understand why and how users search any information. Context of web search makes it possible to classify sporadic and non-sequential queries according to each interest. However, only the user him/herself can identify the context of web search behavior exactly. Hence, it is necessary to conduct a client-side research in which users are deeply engaged. The purpose of this research is to develop and apply the methodology that systematically examines the web search behavior and its context. To achieve this, (1) client-side log data is collected, then participants (2) clustered the queries based on context and (3) filled in a questionnaire as to each clustered queries. Also, interviews were conducted in each person. The finding of this study is that the features of UCQS are different from previous studies. Furthermore, we identified the flow of users' web search behavior. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.