Linguistic Modeling of Internet Search Query Patterns

User Survey

Experience:

How would you rate your computer skill?   Beginner   Intermediate   Advanced  

How many years have you used computers?  

How many years have you used the internet?  

Do you use Search Engines such as Google, Yahoo!, AOL, MSN, or AltaVista?   Yes   No

Which do you prefer?  

Briefly explain why you chose this Search Engine:

Do you ever use the "Advanced Search" function or symbols like: " ", - , or OR?   Yes   No


You will be asked a series of research questions. For each example, rephrase the question as you would enter it in a search field. For each example, try to be as specific as possible.

  1. What was the role of Wilhelm Canaris in Germany's Abwehr, and how did he influence Hitler's Wehrmacht and the outcome of World War II?

    Search Field:  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

    How would you refine your search?  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

  2. What were the effects of water on the iron content during magmatic processes in Martian geochemistry?

    Search Field:  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

    How would you refine your search?  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

  3. What is the U.S. PATRIOT ACT and what are its consequences for American Civil Liberties, particularly concerning information industries such as libraries?

    Search Field:  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

    How would you refine your search?  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

  4. What are the policies for the disposal of Federal Depository Materials from Depository Libraries and the internet?

    Search Field:  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

    How would you refine your search?  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

  5. What was U.S. Code Title 22 Chapter 4 section 219, and when was it active?

    Search Field:  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

    How would you refine your search?  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

  6. In what year was The Big Blue shot?

    Search Field:  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

    How would you refine your search?  

    How many results were retrieved?      Did the first result answer the research question?   Yes   No

Thank you for your participation.

URL: www.u.arizona.edu/~qed2000/index.html
Copyright © 2002, QED2000
Revised: December 10th, 2002