Manually Classifying User Search Queries on an Academic Library Web Site

• Published in: Journal of web librarianship Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 401 - 421
• Main Authors: Chapman, Suzanne, Desai, Shevon, Hagedorn, Kat, Varnum, Ken, Mishra, Sonali, Piacentine, Julie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.10.2013; Routledge; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Academic Libraries; ambiguous query; broadcast search; Categories; Classification; Cognitive Style; Exact sciences and technology; Exploration; federated search; General aspects; Indexing; Information and communication sciences; information retrieval; Information science. Documentation; Investigations; Libraries; Library Development; Library Research; Library Services; library Web sites; manual query classification; Metadata; methods; Michigan; Multiple database searches; one search; Online Searching; Queries; Research Methodology; Sciences and techniques of general use; search query analysis; Search Strategies; Searches; Searching; Studies; Usability; Use Studies; User behaviour; user intent; User Needs (Information); Web Sites; Websites; Winter; Michigan; United States > US; federated search; Word; User; Query; Selection; methods; Manuals; manual query classification; University library; Personnel; ambiguous query; search query analysis; user intent; Winter; Book; Database; Topic; Categorization; library Web sites; Abstract; Use; information retrieval; Higher education library; broadcast search; Method; Survey; Follow up study; Individual; one search; Reliability; Web site
• ISSN: 1932-2909; 1932-2917
• DOI: 10.1080/19322909.2013.842096

The University of Michigan Library wanted to learn more about the kinds of searches its users were conducting through the "one search" search box on the Library Web site. Library staff conducted two investigations. A preliminary investigation in 2011 involved the manual review of the 100 most frequently occurring queries conducted through the site search box over the course of a month. Those 100 search terms accounted for 16 percent of total queries and were largely one-word searches for databases. In the follow-up investigation, the Library embarked on a more ambitious exploration of the 454,443 searches conducted during the winter 2011 semester, devising a method for selecting, categorizing, and summarizing user search queries. A sample of 1,201 searches from the search query logs was examined; after eliminating duplicate searches, there were 992 unique terms available for categorization. Using a non-overlapping sample of queries, a rubric was developed for categorizing user searches. Each of seven library staff members reviewed all unique terms in the sample to categorize them into the best fitting category from the rubric. After establishing a threshold for reliability among the individuals categorizing the queries, 862 unique search terms were analyzed. Based on this analysis, the most frequent kinds of searches conducted in the winter semester in 2011 on the University of Michigan Library's Web site were specific databases (28 percent), topical/exploratory types of queries (28 percent), and books (including searches by title, ISBN, call number, or a combination thereof) (16 percent).Within the sample, known-item searches comprised nearly half (44 percent) of searches in the sample. Another fifth (20 percent) of total searches were categorized as "exploratory," supporting the need to provide broader, subject-based paths to information through the site. Somewhat surprisingly, there were a small number of article searches (article titles, or mixed searches of journal names and authors and/or title words) in the search box-an indication that users understand the University of Michigan Library primary search box is not for articles.