The role of individual differences in Internet searching: An empirical study

Nigel Ford, David Miller and Nicola Moss

Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 2001, vol. 52, issue 12, 1049-1066

Abstract: This article reports the results of a study of the role of individual differences in Internet searching. The dimensions of individual differences forming the focus of the research consisted of: cognitive styles; levels of prior experience; Internet perceptions; study approaches; age; and gender. Sixty‐nine Masters students searched for information on a prescribed topic using the AltaVista search engine. Results were assessed using simple binary relevance judgements. Factor analysis and multiple regression revealed interesting differences, retrieval effectiveness being linked to: male gender; low cognitive complexity; an imager (as opposed to verbalizer) cognitive style; and a number of Internet perceptions and study approaches grouped here as indicating low self‐efficacy. The implications of these findings for system development and for future research are discussed.

Date: 2001
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:jamist:v:52:y:2001:i:12:p:1049-1066

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