This was a talk on social search that I gave at BarCamp San Diego 4 on Nov 15, 2008. It included a brief overview of my research on the role of social interactions in search, followed by a review of current \"social search\" engines. (Hint: I\'m interested in Friendfeed\'s model of social search above all others).
8. The Survey
We sought the context and purpose of the search experience.
BEFORE
DURING
AFTER
9. The Survey
We sought the context and purpose of the search experience.
• when did the episode occur?
BEFORE • what were you doing before the search?
• did you talk with anyone prior to searching?
DURING
AFTER
10. The Survey
We sought the context and purpose of the search experience.
• when did the episode occur?
BEFORE • what were you doing before the search?
• did you talk with anyone prior to searching?
DURING • what steps did you take in your search?
• did you interact with anyone?
AFTER
11. The Survey
We sought the context and purpose of the search experience.
• when did the episode occur?
BEFORE • what were you doing before the search?
• did you talk with anyone prior to searching?
DURING • what steps did you take in your search?
• did you interact with anyone?
• what did you do immediately after?
AFTER
• did you share your results with anyone?
12. Subject Sample
• N = 150
• Anonymous, English-speaking users
• diverse backgrounds
Profession Employer
9% Education Universities (London, Illinois, Missouri, Northeastern)
9% Financial Liberty Mutual, Ernst & Young
7% Healthcare ChartOne Inc, Mid State Health Systems
6% Govt. Agency IRS, US Army, Navy, Air Force, Dept of Commerce
6% Software Oracle, EA Games
6% Retail Target, Circuit City
5% Research LexisNexis, GE Plastics
13. Subject Sample
$41.50
http://bit.ly/mturk
• N = 150
• Anonymous, English-speaking users
• diverse backgrounds
Profession Employer
9% Education Universities (London, Illinois, Missouri, Northeastern)
9% Financial Liberty Mutual, Ernst & Young
7% Healthcare ChartOne Inc, Mid State Health Systems
6% Govt. Agency IRS, US Army, Navy, Air Force, Dept of Commerce
6% Software Oracle, EA Games
6% Retail Target, Circuit City
5% Research LexisNexis, GE Plastics
14. Subject Sample
$41.50
http://bit.ly/mturk
• N = 150
• Anonymous, English-speaking users
• diverse backgrounds
Profession Employer
9% Education Universities (London, Illinois, Missouri, Northeastern)
9% Financial Liberty Mutual, Ernst & Young
7% Healthcare ChartOne Inc, Mid State Health Systems
6% Govt. Agency IRS, US Army, Navy, Air Force, Dept of Commerce
6% Software Oracle, EA Games
6% Retail Target, Circuit City
5% Research LexisNexis, GE Plastics
15. Subject Sample
$41.50
http://bit.ly/mturk
• N = 150
• Anonymous, English-speaking users
• diverse backgrounds
Profession Employer
9% Education Universities (London, Illinois, Missouri, Northeastern)
9% Financial Liberty Mutual, Ernst & Young
7% Healthcare ChartOne Inc, Mid State Health Systems
6% Govt. Agency IRS, US Army, Navy, Air Force, Dept of Commerce
6% Software Oracle, EA Games
6% Retail Target, Circuit City
5% Research LexisNexis, GE Plastics
16. Subject Sample
$41.50
http://bit.ly/mturk
• N = 150
• Anonymous, English-speaking users
• diverse backgrounds
Profession Employer
9% Education Universities (London, Illinois, Missouri, Northeastern)
9% Financial Liberty Mutual, Ernst & Young
7% Healthcare ChartOne Inc, Mid State Health Systems
6% Govt. Agency IRS, US Army, Navy, Air Force, Dept of Commerce
6% Software Oracle, EA Games
6% Retail Target, Circuit City
5% Research LexisNexis, GE Plastics
17. Subject Sample
$41.50
http://bit.ly/mturk
• N = 150
• Anonymous, English-speaking users
• diverse backgrounds
Profession Employer
9% Education Universities (London, Illinois, Missouri, Northeastern)
9% Financial Liberty Mutual, Ernst & Young
7% Healthcare ChartOne Inc, Mid State Health Systems
6% Govt. Agency IRS, US Army, Navy, Air Force, Dept of Commerce
6% Software Oracle, EA Games
6% Retail Target, Circuit City
5% Research LexisNexis, GE Plastics
20. externally-motivated searchers self-motivated searchers
specific request from a boss,
customer, or client
Photo Credit: tuexperto_com5
21. externally-motivated searchers self-motivated searchers
specific request from a boss, self-initiated search for personal or
customer, or client work related information
Photo Credit: tuexperto_com5
22. externally-motivated searchers self-motivated searchers
specific request from a boss, self-initiated search for personal or
customer, or client work related information
Photo Credit: tuexperto_com5
Photo Credit: Peter Voerman
23. Pre-search social interactions are prevalent
Almost half of our sample interacted with other prior to searching.
externally-motivated self-motivated
24. Pre-search social interactions are prevalent
Almost half of our sample interacted with other prior to searching.
externally-motivated self-motivated
70% 30%
25. Pre-search social interactions are prevalent
Almost half of our sample interacted with other prior to searching.
externally-motivated self-motivated
70% 30%
1. seek advice
2. brainstorm
3. collect search tips (e.g., keywords, URLs)
26. During-search social interactions are prevalent
...for “informational” or “exploratory” searches = undefined information need
externally-motivated self-motivated
Photo Credit: Children at Risk Foundation
27. During-search social interactions are prevalent
...for “informational” or “exploratory” searches = undefined information need
externally-motivated self-motivated
28. During-search social interactions are prevalent
...for “informational” or “exploratory” searches = undefined information need
externally-motivated self-motivated
29. Post-search social interactions are prevalent
Over half of users shared information with others
externally-motivated self-motivated
30. Post-search social interactions are prevalent
Over half of users shared information with others
externally-motivated self-motivated
83% 48%
31. Post-search social interactions are prevalent
Over half of users shared information with others
externally-motivated self-motivated
83% 48%
1. obligation
2. thought others would be interested
3. to get feedback
33. social search :
accessing information through social resources
Social resources:
• people
• online social networks
• discussion forums
• archived conversations
34. social search :
accessing information through social resources
Social resources:
• people
• online social networks
• discussion forums
• archived conversations
35. social search :
accessing information through social resources
Social resources: Interactions:
• people • explicit or implicit
• online social networks • co-located or remote
• discussion forums • synchronous or asynchronous
• archived conversations • online or offline
36. Many factors are involved
in getting information from social resources.
49. Thank you #barcampsd4!
Short summary of my research:
http://brynnevans.com/blog/2008/10/15/user-needs-during-social-search/
http://asc-parc.blogspot.com/2008/10/user-needs-during-social-search.html
Link to the paper:
http://brynnevans.com/papers/social-search-cscw08-preprint.pdf
Link to the (more academic) slides:
http://www.slideshare.net/bmevans/towards-a-model-of-understanding-social-search-presentation/
Link to the Interactions Magazine article:
http://interactions.acm.org/content/?p=1189