Strategies of Interactive File Search

Abstract
An experiment was designed to evaluate strategies of interactive file search. Five computerized search procedures were studied to evaluate selection frequency and search efficiency. These search procedures were: scrolling, paging, string search, absolute line movement, and relative line movement. Search strategies were assessed with respect to five independent variables that were manipulated with a mixed-factor, factorial design. These independent variables were: file type, file length, window size, target type, and subject experience. The results indicated that file length, subject experience, and window size were the salient factors of file search. Differences between expert and novice users, as well as, one-line and multi-line windows were discussed with regard to file search performance.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: