Course Overview

‘Information practices’ is a new concept involving human information interaction, and is discussed among various area, from information behaviour research in Library and Information Science to Human Computer Interaction in Computer Science. The concept focused on the understanding of interaction, considering broader context (e.g., social context of users) than conventional information behaviour researches. In this course, students learn the historical background of information practices research, which is originated with the traditional information seeking and retrieval research, user model of information search based on log analysis and laboratory experiment, and the methods of modelling and predicting search engine user behaviour, as well as their evaluation.

Learning Achievement

To be able to understand and explain the historical background of information practices research
To be able to understand and explain search patterns of search engine users based on log analyses
To be able to understand and explain the approaches to including collaborative aspects into information seeking and retrieval
To be able to understand and explain modelling and prediction methods of search engine user behaviour

Competence

Qualitative research competence, Media expertise, System expertise

Course prerequisites

Grading Philosophy

Grading method
The grading will be based on the report assignment and the student's active participation in the class. The due dates for the report assignments are as follows.
- 1st report assignment: 21:00, 6 days after the 4th class
- 2nd report assignment: 21:00, 6 days after the 7th class
- 3rd report assignment: 21:00, 6 days after the 10th class

Percentage
- Report assignment: 90% (30% x 3 times)
- Enthusiasm for class participation: 10%.

Grading Criteria
Students will pass the class based on the following criteria.
- Students will be required to submit report assignments based on the items listed in the achievement objectives. Students will be required to submit all of them and obtain 60% of the full marks in all of the report assignments. Reports will be evaluated by the logical structure, domain expertise, novelty, and writing style.

The grade of A+ to C will be based on the total score of the three report assignments and your enthusiasm for class participation.

Course schedule

(1) Orientation (Joho, Matsubayashi, Yu)
(2) Traditional Model of Information Seeking Behaviour (Matsbayashi)
(3) Context-oriented Approach to Information Behaviour (Matsubayashi)
(4) From Information Behaviour Research to Information Practices Research (Matsubayashi)
(5) Search Pattern of Search Engine Users (Joho)
(6) Collaborative Search (Joho)
(7) Method of User Experiments in Information Retrieval (Joho)
(8) Methods of Constructing Search Engine User Models (Yu)
(9) Prediction of Search Engine User Behaviours (Yu)
(10) Evaluation of Prediction Methods of Search Engine User Behaviour (Yu)

Course type

Lectures

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Joho Hideo,Yu Haitao,Matsubayashi Mamiko

Other information

Class format
- Face to face

Assignments
- Content: Report assignments based on the items listed in the objectives
- Amount: 3 times
- Due date: See Grading Philosophy section

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