Templates for Search Queries: A User-Centered Feature for Improving Web Search Tools

Abstract

A template for search queries was developed based on user-centered design principles and was proposed to assist users in formulating Web search queries. The user-centered design was characterized by predefined search queries organized as a hierarchy. Two experimental search engines and browsers were developed: One was based on currently available search engines and the other was based on the user-centered template design. An experiment was conducted to test the effectiveness of the template design. The dependent variables were (a) the number of relevant Web sites identified during a 1-hr test period, (b) the time to find the first relevant Web site, and (c) satisfaction. The independent variable was type of search engine. The experimental results indicated that the user-centered template design improved users' search performance by 70% and satisfaction of use by 23% as compared to the current search engine.