Understanding the Paths and Patterns of App-Switching Experiences in Mobile Searches

Shaobo Liang (), Dan Wu () and Jing Dong
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Shaobo Liang: School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Dan Wu: School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Jing Dong: School of Information Management, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Mobile searches have become the main channel for people to search for information, and mobile searches have received attention in the field of information-seeking behavior. Especially as users use various apps to search network information, the app-switching behaviors in mobile searches have also attracted scholars’ attention in recent years. Research on app-switching behaviors in mobile searches can help to further understand users’ search motivations, evaluate search results, and improve users’ mobile search experiences. This study recruited participants ( n = 30) and conducted a 15-day user experiment. This study collected all participants’ mobile phone log data during the experiment and identified the app-switching behaviors in mobile searches through a log collection tool. This study aimed to discover the app-switching behavior paths and patterns in mobile searches. Firstly, the basic characteristics of app-switching behaviors in mobile searches were analyzed, as were the app-switching paths in mobile searches from the perspective of switching probability between apps. Then, the different behaviors in mobile search sessions were identified and app-switching behavior patterns were put forward. These behavior patterns summarize user behavior changes in mobile search sessions. This paper focused on analyzing app-switching behavior paths under different patterns and found apparent differences in app-switching behavior paths. This study examined mobile search behavior from the perspective of app-switching. The research of this paper can help to better understand the relationship between users’ mobile search behaviors and app interactions and is an excellent supplement to the analysis of mobile search behaviors.

Keywords: information-seeking behavior; mobile search behavior; information behavior; mobile app; app-switching behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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