Jia Tina Du

Using a Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process to evaluate Chinese search engines

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop an evaluation criteria system for search engines using the Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process, and to conduct an empirical study on Chinese search engines to verify it. This is because the evaluation criteria in current research rarely considers expert opinions and experience, and seldom calculates the weight of each criterion by quantitative methods.Design/methodology/approach – Expert investigation of the web‐based Delphi method was employed to develop the evaluation criteria, and the analytic hierarchy process based on an exponential scale was adopted to calculate the weight of each criterion. An empirical study was designed to test the evaluation criteria system. A total of 12 study participants were invited to evaluate six popular Chinese search engines by means of e‐mail questionnaires. All the calculation processes were executed automatically by Java programming.Findings – The indexing structure and search method were the core criteria...

Transfer Entropy and Information Flow Patterns in Functional Brain Networks during Cognitive Activity

Most previous studies of functional brain networks have been conducted on undirected networks despite the direction of information flow able to provide additional information on how one brain region influences another. The current study explores the application of normalized transfer entropy to EEG data to detect and identify the patterns of information flow in the functional brain networks during cognitive activity. Using a mix of signal processing, information and graph-theoretic techniques, this study has identified and characterized the changing connectivity patterns of the directed functional brain networks during different cognitive tasks. The results demonstrate not only the value of transfer entropy in evaluating the directed functional brain networks but more importantly in determining the information flow patterns and thus providing more insights into the dynamics of the neuronal clusters underpinning cognitive function.

Directed Connectivity Analysis of Functional Brain Networks during Cognitive Activity Using Transfer Entropy

Most previous studies of functional brain networks have been conducted on undirected networks despite the fact that direction of information flow is able to provide additional information on how one brain region influences another. The current study explores the application of normalized transfer entropy (NTE) to detect and identify the patterns of information flow in the functional brain networks derived from EEG data during cognitive activity. Using a combination of signal processing, information and graph-theoretic techniques, this study has identified and characterized the changing connectivity patterns of the directed functional brain networks during different cognitive tasks. The functional brain networks constructed from EEG data using non-linear measure NTE also exhibit small-world property. An exponential truncated power-law fits the in-degree and out-degree distribution of directed functional brain networks. The empirical results demonstrate not only the application of transfer entropy in evaluating the directed functional brain networks, but also in determining the information flow patterns and thus provide more insights into the dynamics of the neuronal clusters underpinning cognitive function.

Modeling web search : preliminary results

This paper reports preliminary results from a study modeling the interplay between multitasking, cognitive coordination, and cognitive shifts during Web search. Study participants conducted three Web searches on personal information problems. Data collection techniques included pre- and post-search questionnaires; think-aloud protocols, Web search logs, observation, and post-search interviews. Key findings include: (1) users Web searches included multitasking, cognitive shifting and cognitive coordination processes, (2) cognitive coordination is the hinge linking multitasking and cognitive shifting that enables Web search construction, (3) cognitive shift levels determine the process of cognitive coordination, and (4) cognitive coordination is interplay of task, mechanism and strategy levels that underpin multitasking and task switching. An initial model depicts the interplay between multitasking, cognitive coordination, and cognitive shifts during Web search. Implications of the findings and further research are also discussed.

Understanding link sharing tools continuance behavior in social media

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the continued use behavior (CU) of link sharing tools based on uses and gratifications theory, the theory of planned behavior and expectation confirmation theory. It then builds a conceptual model that is empirically tested. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 343 students (undergraduates, masters, PhD students, and MBAs) from three Chinese universities via a two-phrase survey. The tools SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 were used to analyse the reliability, validity, model fits and SEM, respectively. Findings The results indicate that an individual’s CU of link sharing tools was determined by his or her continued use intention directly and subjective norm indirectly. Users’ satisfaction on link sharing tools was the main factor affecting the continuance intention. Individuals’ motivation needs such as cognitive needs, personal integrative needs, and social integrative needs were found to be the significant predictors of his or her satisfaction. Besides, people with high privacy concern tended to have less satisfaction with link sharing tools. Originality/value This study explores users’ CU of link sharing tools in social media for the first time. The theoretical model developed shows the predictors behind people’s CU.

Collaborative information retrieval in tourism: a study of user search behaviour, user interface and information retrieval performance

Tourism information is dynamic and travel routes and decisions are dependent on highly varying factors such as perceived attractive sites, weather conditions, prices, transportation, accommodation, holidays, economic changes and so on. Travel guidebooks and present search engines completely lack this potential for dialog. Travel information search activities involved planning, decision making, anticipation of the trip with other people. The community (network of people) may act as a gateway to the information repository, when a tourist is not able to find the right information himself/herself or does not know about his/her information need. This leads to the collaboration for searching tourism information. Considering the following issues we are motivated to study this topic.

Web searching model: Integrating multitasking, cognitive coordination and cognitive shifts

Web search models are a significant and important area of Web research. This paper outlines dissertation research to develop a Web search model that integrates processes involving multitasking, cognitive coordination and cognitive shifts. Based on previous studies, we present a preliminary conceptual model of Web search interaction incorporating multitasking, cognitive coordination and cognitive shifts. Research questions and research design are also discussed.

Professional development through social media applications: a study of female librarians in Pakistan

Purpose This paper aims to explore the extent of use of social media by Pakistani female librarians for professional development and their perception of its usefulness. The paper also attempts to find out social characteristics that influence the use of social media among female librarians for career and professional development (PD). Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through an online survey (using self-administered structured questionnaire) from 102 female librarians in Pakistan regarding usage frequency, perception, choice of librarianship as a profession and perceived benefits of social media. The list of participants was obtained from the Directory of Pakistani Library Professionals compiled by Sada-e-Librarian (a non-profit LIS professional organization). Data collections also include online interviews through Facebook chat with 20 key informants selected from the participants of the questionnaire survey. Findings The study reveals that the majority of Pakistani female librarians is well aware of social media and uses it frequently. They are found to make extensive use of social media for PD and perceive social media as a useful tool for PD. However, social media is judged to be less helpful in acquiring technical skills. The study found a number of factors affecting the use of social media for PD among female librarians in Pakistan. These factors include social characteristics such as privacy, parent’s years of schooling, marital status and family support. Originality/value This study is among the first attempts to discover social characteristics, the use of social media and its relationship with PD among female librarians in Pakistan.

Exploring the dynamic contribution behavior of editors in wikis based on time series analysis

Purpose – Wiki is a new form of information production and organization, which has become one of the most important knowledge resources. In recent years, with the increase of users in wikis, “free rider problem” has been serious. In order to motivate editors to contribute more to a wiki system, it is important to fully understand their contribution behavior. The purpose of this paper is to explore the law of dynamic contribution behavior of editors in wikis. Design/methodology/approach – After developing a dynamic model of contribution behavior, the authors employed both the metrological and clustering methods to process the time series data. The experimental data were collected from Baidu Baike, a renowned Chinese wiki system similar to Wikipedia. Findings – There are four categories of editors: “testers,” “dropouts,” “delayers” and “stickers.” Testers, who contribute the least content and stop contributing rapidly after editing a few articles. After editing a large amount of content, dropouts stop contr...

Exploring the adoption of mobile internet services by socioeconomically disadvantaged people: A qualitative user study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify enablers and inhibitors to the adoption of mobile internet services by socioeconomically disadvantaged people: an understudied population adversely affected by digital inequality. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study combining a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. In total, 32 socioeconomically disadvantaged people explored mobile lottery services and subsequently were asked a series of semi-structured questions about their perceptions of the technology. Findings Users’ attitudes toward mobile internet services were ambivalent. They experienced some advantages of smartphones (including escaping spatiotemporal constrains, fashionableness, privacy, and cost-effectiveness) and conceived of mobile internet services in terms of social advantages (including their ubiquitous nature, fitting in socially and fear of being “left behind”). However, they also experienced barriers and concerns, such as limited mobile data packages, external barriers from mobile services (including security concerns, complex online help tutorials, irrelevant pop-ups, and a lack of personalized services) and internal psychological barriers (including technophobia, self-concept, and habitus). Research limitations/implications The findings are of limited generalizability due to the small size of the sample. However, the study has implications for understanding the acceptance of technology among socioeconomically disadvantaged people. Social implications The study has social implications for bridging digital inequality in terms of socioeconomic status. Originality/value While previous studies have primarily focused on enablers of adopting mobile internet services by active users, this study reveals both the promise of and the barriers to the use of such services by inactive users who comprise an under-served population.