How Do People Re-find Files, Emails and Web Pages?

Jones, William; Wenning, Abe; Bruce, Harry

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/47300 Copy

Description

Title

How Do People Re-find Files, Emails and Web Pages?

Author(s)

• Jones, William
• Wenning, Abe
• Bruce, Harry

Issue Date

2014-03-01

Keyword(s)

• personal information management
• PIM
• information behavior
• re-finding
• personal search

Abstract

"Recent research suggests that a preference for navigation by folder to re-find files endures notwithstanding dramatic improvements in support for search as an alternate method of return. This paper describes a study that confirms this finding for files but that observes a distinctly different pattern of preference for re-finding email messages. After a delay of 2 to 4 weeks, search was the most common first choice for the return to email messages. A third, compound method was predominant for the return to Web information: The use of character-by-character ""auto-complete"" search was frequently followed by a hyperlink navigation to reach a targeted web page. Results point to the need for an integrated support of search and navigation methods during re-finding attempts. Results also suggest that support for re-finding begins with support for the initial ""keeping"" of information. Finally, results affirm two basic tenets of personal information management (PIM): 1. The need to consider multiple forms of information. 2. The need to consider a PIM activity such as re-finding within a larger context that includes other activities of PIM and considers the life cycle of personal information."

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

english

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/47300

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/14136

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 is held by the authors of individual items in the proceedings. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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