نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 دانشگاه شیراز
2 عضو هیات علمی گروه علم اطلاعات و دانش شناسی دانشگاه شیراز
3 عضو هیأت علمی دانشگاه شیراز
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Purpose: This study delves into the intricacies of alpha wave activity, specifically examining how it varies across different stages of web searching to serve as a marker for selective attention. In the contemporary digital landscape, the act of retrieving information has seamlessly woven itself into our daily routines, underscoring the importance of comprehending users' cognitive functions and focus within this sphere. With an abundance of online data at our fingertips, honing the ability to concentrate on pertinent information while disregarding distractions has become increasingly vital.
Method: This fundamental quantitative study involved the collection of data using EEG (electroencephalography) devices to measure brain activity across different phases of the search process. These phases included identifying information needs, formulating questions, reviewing search engine results, and judging page relevance. The sample for this study consisted of 12 graduate students from Shiraz University. These students were selected through purposive sampling, a method where participants are chosen based on specific criteria relevant to the study. The participants, aged between 22 and 36 years, were selected for their advanced search skills, ensuring that the study captured data from individuals with a high level of proficiency in information retrieval and search processes.
Findings: Results from the study show that there are notable variations in selective attention at different stages of web searching. Specifically, the research found that the judgment phase elicited the highest levels of alpha wave activity, indicating heightened cognitive processing. In contrast, the question formulation and result evaluation stages showed the lowest levels of alpha wave activity, suggesting reduced cognitive load during these phases. These findings imply that users experience fluctuations in both internal and external selective attention levels throughout the web searching process. More specifically, users tend to demonstrate decreased external selective attention and increased internal selective attention when making judgments about the relevance of a web page. This suggests that users may shift their focus from external stimuli to internal cognitive processes when evaluating the suitability of search results.
Conclusion: Changes in alpha wave activity reflect variations in users' internal and external selective attention levels. During the judgment phase, users reduce their external focus due to the need for deep thought and information analysis, thereby enhancing their internal focus. Conversely, during question formulation and result evaluation phases, external attention increases while internal attention decreases. This shift arises from users' urgent need to select relevant items from a plethora of available information. Users must quickly decide between words and titles, thus concentrating more on external factors. The findings of this study could assist in developing more effective and user-friendly web search technologies. By better understanding users' cognitive processes, search system designers can create features that enhance user experience and improve their ability to find desired information. Ultimately, this study highlights the need for further research into the impact of selective attention on search processes and decision-making. Advanced techniques such as EEG can provide deeper insights into how individuals interact with digital content and offer innovative solutions for improving user experience.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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