Browsing: A Multidimensional Framework

The author provides the first ARIST review devoted solely to browsing, identifying the underlying common dimensions of browsing in a wide variety of human activities.

Abstract

This chapter is included in Section II of ARIST: basic techniques and technologies. The author provide the first ARIST review devoted solely to browsing . Browsing has beeeen discussed as a part of many other topics in past ARIST chapters. The authors view browsing from many different disciplinary contexts, integrating the diverse literatures on browsing: library and informaion science (e.g., library information seeking); end-user IR and system design (e.g., online database searching); consumer behavior (e.g, store shopping); mass media audiences (e.g., TV channel switching); organizationnal communication (e. g., Organizational scanning); and wayfinding and environmental design. Within each of these contexts the author asks: what is browsing, and what influences browsing, and what are the consequences of browsing? The chapter attempts to identify the underlying common dimensions of browsing. These considerations then lead to a multidimensional frame work for better understanding the nature, influences,and consequences of browsing in a wide variety of human activities