How concept maps change if a user does search or not?

Previous studies have shown that a concept map can capture changes in the user knowledge structure during a search. However, these studies could not exclude the possibility of the influence of instructions or time-dependent changes. In this study, we have compared differences between concept maps created before and after a search condition and a non-search condition to reveal whether these changes are due to searching. In the experiment, participants were required to gather information on the Web in preparation for a group discussion. The participants were divided into two groups representing two tasks, convergent and divergent tasks. The convergent task required gathering web pages for a specific and detailed discussion, and the divergent task required gathering web pages for a wide-ranging discussion. Participants performed each task under search and filler conditions. In the search condition, they searched the Web. In the filler condition, they played a typing game on a PC. We compared pre- and post-task concept maps. Analysis of the number of nodes in the concept maps indicated that changes in the search condition are significant, whereas changes in the filler condition are insignificant. The analysis of the number of nodes at each distance from the center nodes in the concept maps showed that tasks had a greater effect in the search condition than in the filler condition. Finally, we consider whether the experimental results support our hypotheses.