Back to my
Research Report | To My
Homepage | To My
Annotated Bibliography
To Dr. Jamesí
Homepage | To The
Class Homepage
Welcome to my self-observation
data I recorded during various web searches I did to collect research material
for my research report.
Before you begin to look at the raw results of my
self-observation data, I would like to explain the layout and also how to get
back to my research report. The layout of this page consists of 10
forms/questionnaires I completed during searches I did over the last two
months. These questionnaires are the same questionnaire for all search
sessions. The red lettered text is the question and my answers are in the black
lettering. At the start of each new questionnaire I have place a number so that
you can know where you are within it. I have done this so that navigating this
long document will be somewhat easier. At the top and bottom of this page, you
will find useful links, one of which will take you back to my formal research
report. Of course, you can always use the Back Button on your web browser for
going back to my research report.
1
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
9/02/02
2) Time at start:
4:36pm
3) Time at end:
5:20pm
4) Briefly
describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why.
My task at hand
today is that of gathering Internet resources for my annotated bibliography. I
will be focusing on how men and women handle relationships differently. I
specifically want to find web sites on this topic not journal articles or
newspaper reports. I would like to get at least two websites to use.
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today?
Type in hours and
minutes: 50 minutes
6) If you compare this task to other search tasks youíve
done, how long should it take in your opinion?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9 10
Much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Since I am looking to get at least two items to include in my annotated
bibliography, I think it will take a longer then average, but should remain
under an hour because the internet has much to offer.
7) How important
to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9 10
not
important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I can always use the internet to look up what I am looking for
today, and since my project is not due until 10/14 I still have lots of time,
so I donít assign that much importance to this search today.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number
here: 6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: To get upset about not finding information about my topic on the
web is possible. I think that there is much to find on the Internet about my
topic and I would be upset if my search found me nothing.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I am sure I will find something and most definitely something relevant to my
search topic of how men and women handle relationships differently. I feel
confident using web search engines that are excellent in their web indexing,
like google.com.
10) How likely is
it that you will become good at this type of task?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
pretty
doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I believe that there is much to learn about how to become good at using the
Internet to find what you want in terms of information or citation.
Comparatively speaking, I donít think I will reach expert levels, but I think I
could become good at with practice. Only with practice, it is not likely that
using the Internet for this class project will increase my abilities for this
searching type of task by much.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I
tend to be resourceful when it comes to locating things on the Internet. If I
am looking for details on how to troubleshoot a problem with a computer system
I can find related materials, among other things. I view the Internet as a
wealth of free (must paid the access bill) information. I donít know about
attributing luck to my finding of information because luck seems so loose. But
since I always can find something useful I would say I have luck in searching.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
slightly motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I want my MTV. That is I want my search results. And I want them by the time I
am done. I will not give up until I have at least one source. I am motivated to
get the goal at hand, because I donít want to waste my time.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
The Internet and the search engines the scourer it for topic related quarries
are very useful to people who seek information in the written form. I totally
agree with the statement that computers and the Internet make it easier for
people to find what there are looking for. If there was not an Internet, people would have to leave
their houses and works place to connect to information resources that are now
on-line.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2 3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
My search topic is a hot area of research as well as pop culture. There will
undoubtedly be something on specifically what I am looking for.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I expect that this search task will require a medium amount of energy. Looking
through search results is sometime consuming, but I think that I will find
related materials relatively quick, reducing effort out put.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1: Search Engine ñ
google.com web search engine
Explain why you
chose it? I always use
google to search for what ever I am looking for on the Internet. I think that
google has a smart or intelligent part about it that helps supply you with what
you really want. I am not sure, but it seems to get accurate result each time.
Database or search
engine 2: Search Engine -
Search.comís metasearch engine.
Explain why you
chose it? This metasearch
engine is great, it is a search engine that searches other search engines. I
use it when I need back up to googleís search engine.
Database or search
engine 3: Search Engine ñ Hotbot.com Internet
search engine sponsored by lycos networks.
Explain why you
chose it? This search engine
I use as a way to create variety in my search approach.
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I had a productive day. I was a little irritated when I would click on a link
that sounded good from the hyperlink title in the search results, but would
only find out that the site was a commercial selling point of relationship
related goods. I wanted information not goods to buy.
17) How anxious
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I
was confident going into this search that it would work out and it did. I did
not feel anxious, because I was not trying to do something that was outside of
reach. When I start to look for journal articles on scholarly journal databases
I will feel more anxiety.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I did not encounter anything that I did not expect today. I knew I might run
into some slow going, so I was prepared to wade through some stuff I did not
want to. I was not frustrated because I know that using Internet search engines
are not 100% going to give you what you want, or even 50%, you can what you can
from half of the search results. That is good enough for me.
19) How much rage
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I felt no rage during my searching process. I was calm and wanted to seek
without getting worked up over the small stuff, such as not finding a single
worthy link in a total search quarry return.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an explanation for
your answer: Searching always takes effort. I have to say put in
one place and concentrate on getting what I want without getting side-tracked
by the irrelevant hyperlinks in cyberspace. Cyberspace is an intriguing place
and one can easily get distracted within it. So much is at oneís fingertips in
cyberspace, a move the wrong direction can lead to endless interesting
information on something you are not actively seeking. Attention is required to
operate in cyberspace. So this attention requests effort, so I say I gave
effort to hold my attention to what I was looking for. But beyond that I was
not pushed to find new or out of the way search engines, this would have
required more effort on my part.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My search today produced relevant sources for my annotated
bibliography topic of how men and women handle relationships differently. I
found a web publication by a Psy.D. in clinical Psychology that outlined what
he felt were important differences between men and women, showing how these
differences affect relationships. Also I found a marriage support site that
dealt with educating people on what differences men and women bring up in terms
of being married to each and how those differences affect the relationship.
These were relevant sources.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Today was a good day. No Internet failures or computer crashes. I
am working on a NEW apple ibook that we got at work less then a week ago. It is
a fresh looking frost white polycarbonate beauty with 384 MB of ram and 700 MHZ
G3 CPU. I love it. And it is wirelessly connected to the Internet so I can move
around my work building and remain on-line, it is too cool. The search engines
I used were in top form, producing excellent results.
23) How easy was
it to use the search engine or computer facility today?
Type a number
here: 10
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
9/4/02
2) Time at start:
3:50pm
3) Time at end: 4:50pm
4) Briefly
describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why. My focus for this search session is to
track down items for to use in my annotated bibliography on the topic of how
men and women handle relationships differently. I want to look through
web-blogs and web based user groups for discussion on this subject.
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today? I think that this task will take longer than my average task of
40 minutes. Because I have less experience in search this kind of source.
Type in hours and
minutes: 60 minutes
6) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long should it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I have little experience of searching within web blogs and internet use groups.
I donít even know the structure of how a user group works. I have taken an
on-line class and participated in the web discussion area of that virtual
classroom, but I am not familiar with web based user groups discussion posting
environment. There will be a learning curve for me.
7) How important
to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Because it is a requirement of our annotated bibliography to
include citations from user groups or web logs on the topic questions this is
an important search session. It is also important because I donít want to have
to do it again, so I want to get it done with today.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: For how much I effort I plan to put in to this search today I
will be very upset if I find nothing in return. I am willing to work hard and not get upset, as long as I get
something in return. Also if I find nothing that means I will have look for it
later and I want to be efficient and not have to do things twice.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: As I said above I have no experience with web based user groups,
so I am not sure about how this will go. But I am not doubtful that will find
something, considering my topic search of how men and women handle
relationships differently. I think that there will ample discussions on this
topic. At least I hope so.
10) How likely is it that you will become good at this
type of task?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9 10
pretty
doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I am not attracted to learn about on-line discussion forum and
web user groups. So I donít see that it is likely that I will become good at
searching within them. I just want to learn enough to get in and get what I
need and get out.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number here:
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
The majority of the time I try to look for something on the Internet I can find
a close match that satisfies my need. I find that the search engines I use make
a big difference in my ability to use the Internet to my advantage.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
slightly
motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I want to succeed in my search efforts today. This is important
because I donít want to mess around with user groups more than I need to. I
just want to do one session on them and get what I need. I am motivated to get
the job done now so I cannot have to do it later.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6 7
8
9 10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I think that computer and search engines make getting at
information easier for a lot of people. There are also draw backs to the
internet search engine, because they donít always give you what you are looking
for, instead giving you distracting information that can sidetrack you.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: What I am looking for in the user groups is peoples ideas of how
men and women handle relationships differently, I am sure that this type of
information exists in some user groups, the only question is if I can locate
it.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I rate the effort of this task of looking for citations within internet user
groups high, because I have never done it and I know I will have to go slow and
learn along the way. Learning new things and new procedure is always effort
intense. I donít think it will require tremendous effort though.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1:
www.groups.google.com
Explain why you
chose it? I used this
internet user groups search engine because it was recommended in the
instruction for our annotated bibliography.
Database or search
engine 2: www.yahoo.com
- search engine
Explain why you
chose it? I had a hard time
trying to find searchable user groups like the one listed above at
groups.google.com, so I just used Yahooís web search engine to find web rings
and internet forums.
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: At first I was very irritated, because I could not find a
discussion between two or more people about how men and women handle
relationships differently. I that there were many discussions about computer
related hardware and software, but little conversation on relationship related
issues. This got me irritated. Even though I did find what I was looking for
eventually.
17) How anxious
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My relatively high level of anxiety was induced because of my
fear that I might not have found anything pertaining to my topic search within
the web forum I looked in.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I was expecting to have a difficult time with this search due to
my low amount of knowledge of how to use a internet forum and even what the
principles of them are. So did not get frustrated at the fact that I was
experiencing difficulty with it, I accepted my place in my struggle.
19) How much rage did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: After the first 30 minutes of searching without
getting close to finding a valid citation for using in my research report I was
mad to the point of rage. I was angry that I could not find what I thought was
just a few clicks away. The time I was spending without getting anything in the
form of results was enraging, because it is not what I am accustomed to.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: At the start of my search, I had to familiarize myself with the
forum groups website, at groups.google.com, just to understand how to search
within it. Once I began to search I got varied results that were not helpful.
So my search process started out slow. I was forced to put our more effort
because I was inexperienced in this type of searching. My searching at groups
within the Yahoo framework was a horrible experience, because the user groups
were not related to what I was looking for.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2 3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: What I ended up find on within the groups at groups.google.com
was a discussion between a disgruntled wife and the other group members. The
wife was asking the group members for advise on how they would handle a
disconcerting situation with her husband. This was relevant to my search topic.
It was very relevant actually.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 6
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I am always pleased with the computer I work, the search engines I
use is another story. The search engines I used today were a mixed bag in terms
of good and bad. The search engine I was using at yahoo was horrible or maybe
it was just searching a horrible database, anyway the search results were
horrible. The groups.google.com search engine was better and finally produced a
great group thread discussion related to my search topic.
23) How easy was
it to use the search engine or computer facility today?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
very
easy
very
difficult
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
The computer I used today was fine. I was running Internet explorer and had not
problems at all. The search engines were harder to use then the computer, since
had minimal hands-on experience with searching web forums. I was required to
learn about them in the beginning.
24) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long did it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: The search I did today was longer than an average search for me.
It lasted for an hour, about 20 minutes longer than average. It took longer
because I need to learn more about how to do it, then actually doing it. For
instance, when I search the internet with a search engine like google.com I
donít need to learn about the structure threads or how to understand who is
talking to who, and what topic people are replying to, I just need to know
about hyperlinks and how to get around in cyberspace.
25) Which factor
was most important in getting the search results you got?:
a) luck
b) my search
techniques
c) the quality of
the databases or search engines I used
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: C. I think that the quality of the database I use make the biggest
impact on me finding what I needed to find. I say this because, I used two
different search engines, one was good and produced usable results, while the
other was horrible and did not produce relevant results. I think it also has to
do with the database the search engine is searching.
26) Did you change the goals from the beginning to the end of your
search? Please explain what change and why. Even though I worked the web forums for an hour I did not
change my goal from the start of my web forum and user group search. I stayed
on target and got results.
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
9/10/02
2) Time at start:
3:20pm
3) Time at end: 3:40pm
4) Briefly
describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why. With my search today I just want to get
a feel for what the internet can offer me on the search topic of different form
of spirituality that are in our society. And if I come across any relevant
sites I will download them and keep them as possible item for my annotated
bibliography.
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today? Since I am just
ìgetting a feel forî what I will be dealing with on the internet in term of
spirituality information I think donít want to spend more then 30 minutes.
Type in hours and
minutes: 30 minutes
6) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long should it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5 6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Again since I am only looking and checking the environment out, I would say
less time, then more time.
7) How important
to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Of minimal importance, because I am only surveying the landscape
of the internet on what it has to offer me on the topic I want to look up. This
is still important to a search process, but not critical.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
not
upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Because I am not looking for any one thing, I canít say I would
be upset if I did not anything. I would be surprised, and know that I just did
not make the moves in looking for spiritually related material on the Internet,
because I know there is this material on the Internet.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Because of the nature of my objective ñ Getting a feeling for what
the internet has to offer on the subject of different spiritualities in our
society ñ I am sure I will accomplish my task. As easy as visiting a few
internet search sites (yahoo, google, and hotbot) and making simple searches
with no expectations and no constrains.
10) How likely is it that you will become good at this
type of task?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
pretty
doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Looking up information on the Internet, is sometimes challenging
but very too hard to not do. Being good at doing it another thing. When we are
good at doing it we take less time and apply better tactics to the search
process. I think that I have better than fair chance at becoming good at search
the Internet for resources for formal research papers. If you have access to a
computer with Internet ability, and I do, that is half the battle.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9 10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I donít see searching as having to with
luck. Luck implies that something happened by chance, but search engines donít
work on luck, so the only luck you might experience is the search engine you
choose. I try to minimize my luck to stay on solid ground, not prone to bad or
good luck, I just use effective internet searches such as yahoo.com search
engine or google.comís excellent search engine. I always find something worthy
but not based on luck based on tried and trued search engines.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
slightly
motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I am motivated enough to get the job done. I donít have a big job
ahead of me, so I am less motivated. This is appropriate, less motivation for a
small job. I merely getting feel for what I can expect in the future.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Just imagine what it would be like trying to locate information
without the Internet of computers. We would be going backward to a time of
stagnation and slow growth of global knowledge dissemination. The internet and
the computer that use and make it up, unquestionably make it easier for people
to find what they are looking for, even if what they are looking for canít be
found, they can find that out faster on the internet than looking all
around.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I am certain that there will be specific webpages on what I am
looking for. No question about it.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
My task for today is not hard. It is almost a joke in term of effort required.
I just want to get a feel for what I can expect to come across in my hunt for
information on the subject of different spiritualities. It is quite simple this
task today.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1: www.google.com
Explain why you
chose it? For general searching
I find that google is very helpful, this is why I use it.
Database or search
engine 2: www.yahoo.com
Explain why you
chose it? Yahoo is
considered on the premier website search engine, so I follow the masses and use
it.
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I was laid back during my search session that only lasted 20
minutes. I experience no irritation.
17) How anxious
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My expectation for this search session were low, I was using this search session as a
baseline setting for my future search session the topic of differing
spirituality in our society. I experienced no anxiety this time.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Not frustrated, because I did not even want to find anything, and
found lots of relevant materials.
19) How much rage
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: No rage today, maybe when I am trying harder and not getting what
I want.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I had to do the normal things that make up a internet search, like
visit search engines, make searches, steer through search result and decide
with links to follow and with to not, this required effort, but on a scale it
was less than others searching tasks.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: For what I wanted to get out of my search today I got what I
wanted, and it was relevant to what I looking for. It was exactly relevant to what I intended the search
to be. So it was success relevance wise.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Of course, I could have been working on a brand new computer the
fastest of its class, with the fastest internet access available, but then that
would leave no room for improvement. I am very pleased with the computer I was
using during my search and the Internet search sites I visited.
23) How easy was
it to use the search engine or computer facility today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9 10
very
easy
very
difficult
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Sometimes searching on the internet is hard when the internet has delays from
heavy traffic or my ISP is having problems and internet access is cut off or
severely hampered. This was not the case today, smooth sailing all the way.
24) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long did it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: This task, as stated above, took relatively less time and energy
then other searching task, mostly because it was super simplify. The
specificity of the search was very minimal.
25) Which factor
was most important in getting the search results you got?:
a) luck
b) my search
techniques
c) the quality of
the databases or search engines I used
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: C. I think that the search engine one uses are the key factors in
their searching success on the Internet. Itís all about the search engine and
the phrase you ask it search.
26) Did you change
the goals from the beginning to the end of your search? Please explain what
change and why. I stayed
true to the plan I had the begin of the search session, that to get feel for
what the internet has to offer on the subject of different spiritualities in
our society.
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
9/14/02
2) Time at start:
8:00am
3) Time at end: 9:20am
4) Briefly
describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why. My task for this session is to look for
newspaper and magazine articles on the topic of how men and women handle
relationship differently.
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today? I am targeting a
specific are to look for related materials, newspapers and magazines, so I
donít think that this task will take more than one hour, but I am not sure.
Type in hours and
minutes: 60 minutes or less
6) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long should it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I want to locate non-internet (non-website) material, this will make it harder
to do than other searches that can use the vast resources of the internet
itself, instead of searching newspapers and magazine that use the internet as a
secondary publishing method.
7) How important
to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: It is important that I do this task today because, it will a link
in my search progress, and I plan on finding at least one of the 10-12 sources
I will use in my formal report. Therefore it carries a worth of at least 10% of
overall importance. Since I am relaying on small searches that function in this
way, it is important.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: If I found nothing today I would be upset about it. I canít even
think about not finding anything, that just does not fit in to my thinking, so
if I did it would shock me and upset me.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Things are never known for sure until executed, but I feel firm in
that I will succeed in my venture today. The quality and quantity of newspapers
and magazines on-line is substantial and that will help me.
10) How likely is it that you will become good at this
type of task?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
pretty
doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I donít regularly look for specific information at newspaper and
magazine site, because I donít have the need. If I need to look up something I
usually look for it on the Internet at a website that is not connected to a
newspaper. I use newspaper sites to find out about daily news. But not to
research things. This minimal usage of newspaper and magazine internet sites
make me believe that it is not likely that I will become good at this type of
search.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
The concept of luck does not seem to fit my thinking sometimes, but I can see
how it is applied in this question. I rate my luck because I always get
something useful form my searches.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
slightly
motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I want to accomplish this task and my motivation matches my want.
I feel like it is necessary for me to complete this task with goods collected
at the end, because if not I am just working hard for no return. I will keep on
trying until get at least one source.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I strongly agree with this statement. It is clear that internet
search engines enhance finding material on-line. As for computers, they are the
internet, without them no internet or search engines would exist, so they are
the backbone of the operation, the thing users use.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4
5 6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: It is possible that I look and look and look, with no positive
results, but this is very unlikely. I am inclined to say that it is very likely
that there will be something specific on how men and women handle relationships
differently in newspapers or magazine with on-line presence.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Today I am stepping out of my bounds, and searching in new territory. This will
require more effort than using google.com search engine to which I am familiar.
I will need to locate newspapers with searchable databases of past issue and
magazine with past issue on-line.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1:
www.washingtonpost.com
Explain why you
chose it? The Washington
post one of the nations premier newspapers, and it thought it would have large
amount of relevant materials.
Database or search
engine 2:
www.detroitfreepress.com
Explain why you
chose it? The Detroit free
press is an on-line newspaper that is liberal in nature and covers a wide
variety of subjects.
Database or search
engine 2: www.cosmomag.com
Explain why you
chose it? This magazine is
womenís reading material, so I thought I could count on it supplying
relationship information about differences between and men and women in
relationships.
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: The bulk of my irritation came from my efforts at cosmomag.com
where I thought I could get some quality citation, but instead got columns
about sex affairs and fashion shows. In the relationship-oriented section of
the magazine they had an advice column for sexual questions and a ìin the bed
roomî column on how to perform different sexual acts. This irritated me because
I had different expectation of what I would find.
17) How anxious
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I stayed connected to what I was doing, and felt like I was
making progress toward my end goal, so I did not develop too much anxiety in
this search session.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: At the newspaper sites I went to I had good results, my searches
produced relevant articles to what I was looking for. At the magazine site I
went to I had a different outcome, it was horrible. This added to my
frustration in my search session. I was highly frustrated at a point.
19) How much rage
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I did not want to get anger with my computer, but I did have rage
at the magazine publisher for not including more information of the topic of
how men and women handle relationships differently, I thought this would at
least be covered in some major way, but I could not find it. I was enraged that
I thought I it was there and I could not find it.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2 3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: More effort than normal, I had to really think about how to
approach it and then while searching I had to trouble shoot my way through some
of the search engines until I understood how to use them.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: What I found today was a mix of content. All from newspapers, but
differently connected to how men and women handle relationships. The relevance
of the material I collected is high; it is certainly related.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I love working on my computer at work, it is fast, with a fast
internet connection. All the search engines I used at different websites worked
with a problem and I made progress towards my end goal.
23) How easy was
it to use the search engine or computer facility today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
very
easy
very
difficult
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Everything was easy to use, not everything turned out to be what I expected,
especially the cosmomag.com site.
24) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long did it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: This was longer task to complete. I was not familiar with how
with which site to use and this took time to figure out. Then searching those
site was slower too, because was not familiar their interface. It took about
twice as long as average search session.
25) Which factor
was most important in getting the search results you got?:
a) luck
b) my search
techniques
c) the quality of
the databases or search engines I used
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: C. I think that the search engine I used made the biggest
difference, in term of the results
I got. I did get quality results, but I used quality newspapers search engine
as well.
26) Did you change the goals from the beginning to the end of your
search? Please explain what change and why. I did not change my goals within this search session. I
stated my goal at the start and did not waver from it.
5
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
9/18/02
2) Time at start:
6:00am
3) Time at end:
6:10am
4) Briefly
describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why.
This morning I
want to focus on gathering a book review of Deborah Tannenís book, You Just
Donít Understand, Men and women in conversation. This I want to find
because it will be valuable to add in my annotated bibliography on the subject
of how men and women handle relationship differently.
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today?
Type in hours and
minutes: 15 minutes
6) If you compare this task to other search tasks youíve
done, how long should it take in your opinion?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
Much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
My task should not take that long today. I am looking for some thing that there
should be many of. This is because Tannen is a well know author and also ranks
on the best seller list too.
7) How important
to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: It is important that I secure this book review because Tannen
will do a lot explain the differences between and women in how they communicate,
and that is major part of relationships.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I would be maddened if I found nothing of a book report on
Tannenís book. I would be so upset because I know that such a document exists
and that more than one exists.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I am sure I will find this book review or book report, because Tannen is sooo
popular.
10) How likely is
it that you will become good at this type of task?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
pretty
doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I donít really care if I become good this type of task as long I can find what
I am looking for, I will be fine.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: When
it comes to searching on the internet, I normally have good fortune, that is
luck is on my side, beasue I can always get something that is close to what I
need.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
slightly
motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I am confident that I will find this book review with minimal motivation, but
none the less am pumped up to get the resource, because I know it make a good
entry in my report later on.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Traveling to the libarary is eliminated because of computer and the internet
and search engines. Yes this makes it super easy for people to find what they
are looking for. Also search engines that mine the internet are on the global
scale of the internet, thus providing a much deeper extent of information.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I am 100% certain I there will be what I am looking for.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I perceive this task requiring very little time and energy on my part. This is
becasut the internet is so awesome and does all the work for you, when you have
such an easy task as I have today.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1: Search Engine ñ
google.com web search engine
Explain why you
chose it? I always use
google to search for what ever I am looking for on the Internet.
Database or search
engine 2: Search Engine ñ No
additional search engine needed
Explain why you
chose it? Not needed
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Todayís search so trouble free and very short. I found my target search item
after only 10 minutes of searching.
17) How anxious
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5 6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: With
a search as easy as my search today, was not anxious.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I did not have the need for frustration, plus I only was on the internet for 10
minutes, hardly time enough to get frustrated.
19) How much rage
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
No rage today, only bliss.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an explanation for
your answer: I love the Internet. I love that is commercially
based, because that means big business has a vested interest in making it as
powerful and efficient as possible, this is good because capitalism is what
gets things done in this country.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I found exactly what I was looking for and what I was looking for
is 100% relevant to my topic question.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My computer and Internet connection were flawless. Everything
worked out great. I guess I could a T1 connection @ $1000/mon. and things would
be better, but I am not going to pay for that. I am very supportive of these
resources I used.
23) How easy was
it to use the search engine or computer facility today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
very
easy
very
difficult
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Very easy. I was using a macintosh and
they are always easy and delightful to use. They just look so much more cool
than damn Windows boxes. Also google is real winner, I found what I wanted in
flash of 10 minutes with no hassle or commericial crap.
24) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long did it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3 4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Quick compared to other tasks. This search session only lasted 10
minutes.
25) Which factor
was most important in getting the search results you got?:
a) luck
b) my search
techniques
c) the quality of
the databases or search engines I used
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: B
The search engine
I used made a difference as to what I got in return. Google makes I big
difference, because it not linked to a commercial portal like msn or yahoo, you
not distracted and the results are top notch.
26) Did you change the goals from the beginning to the end of your search? Please explain what change and why.
I had a goal in
th beginning of my search session and before I even had to change my goal I had
aready found what I was looking for. Mission completed.
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
9/21/02
2) Time at start:
3:50pm
3) Time at end: 4:20pm
4) Briefly
describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why. This search session is for gathering
material for my annotated bibliography on the topic of different spiritualities
in our society today. I want to look for scientifically based resources. Maybe
there has been research done on this topic and a quantitative approach has been
applied? Maybe there is journal article related to this topic, these are what I
am looking for today.
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today? Since there is many web accessible journals I can use via UHís
connection with the Voyager system of on-line resources for scientific database
searching, I think I should be able to complete this task under an hour and
even less. The Internet connection I work on makes a big differences as well,
since it is on the university Internet system access, it is very fast.
Type in hours and
minutes: 40 minutes or less
6) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long should it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
This searching task should not take more than the average time for other task
like it, where I am finding specific journal articles on databases. Hopefully
it will take less than an hour.
7) How important
to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: The important of this search is moderate. I have time for errors
in the process yet. It is important that I get this what I am looking for but,
not critically important.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My mood affects my answer to this question. I am feeling better
today than I have felt all week. I am immune to high levels of being upset and
this point in the day, even if my search does not produce any thing.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Science and spirituality donít seem to be a likely paring. Maybe I
will have a hard time finding even on journal article on the subject, but I am
going to try.
10) How likely is it that you will become good at this
type of task?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
pretty
doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Becoming good at use scientific databases canít be that hard, but
I donít think I will do with this limited amount of searching required for my
annotated bibliography. I think I will achieve success but it is not likely
that I will become good at it.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
On the general subject of search the internet for what I am looking for, I have
pretty good luck, that is I always find something useful.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
slightly
motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I semi-motivated to do make sure I succeed today. I feel like
playing outside and swimming in the ocean, more than doing searches for
spirituality related journal articles.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I fully agree with this statement, even more so that universities
supply connections to on-line scientific database, such as Medline and
EBSCOHost and Science Direct. These are great resources and offer much
information otherwise unavailable in quick access form.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: This is a shaky search, I am looking for scientific reports or
journal articles that pertain to spirituality. I donít know of many
scientists that endorse the idea
of god, so we have to see how it goes. But it seems minimally likely.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Because, I am looking for an obscure topic in scientific study I think I will
be forced to apply more effort to locate material. This why I assigned a
relatively high effort rating.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1: Science Direct
database
Explain why you
chose it? This is a huge
indexed database and offers multiple journal listings spanning across many
different sciences. A good place to start.
Database or search
engine 2: Hawaii Pacific
Journal Index
Explain why you
chose it? I donít know much
about this journal index but I gave it try. No result were obtained from using
it.
Database or search
engine 2: Ingenta search
engine.
Explain why you
chose it? Ingenta is a
search point for searching a large collection of internet and print publication
involving science. The also have academic publications as well.
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5 6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Today I was lucky, I found a two journals articles that were
related to spirituality and did so within 30 minutes from starting. I was not
experiencing irritation at all.
17) How anxious
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: In the first 10 minutes of my search, I felt very anxious, thinking
to myself that this task was going to take me over an hour. But after I got
going and located on relevant article on study about spirituality, I calmed
down and relaxed because I at least had one item and had succeed in the my search early on.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I had little frustration because I got better results than I
expected to get and I got result faster than I expected as well.
19) How much rage
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I thought that I might get score high on this answer in at the
start of my search, because I thought that I was embarking on a tough journey.
But to my surprise I found relevant materials, not only one but two, they were unexpected but welcomed. So I
ended up scoring low on this scale of rage assessment.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3 4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: More effort than normal, I had to really think about how to
approach it and then while searching I had to trouble shoot my way through some
of the search engines until I understood how to use them.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 6
1
2
3
4
5
6 7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: What I found today was semi-related to what my topic question for
my annotate bibliography asks about spirituality. One of the journal articles I
found showed that involvement in spirituality is correlated with less proneness
to being bored and the other I found was a study on a peopleís common
understand belief in god. The study reported that about an average of 84% of
Americans do in fact believe in some form of god.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Not one single interference or problem with the equipment I used
today. I had an absolutely wonderful experience of using the internet and the
computer today. Flawless. Then the fact that I scored two journal articles on
my topic subject was great two. I had a good day for research.
23) How easy was
it to use the search engine or computer facility today?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
very
easy
very
difficult
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
It was very easy. On other days I have problems; not today.
24) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long did it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Most searches for me take about 40-45 minutes, today it was only
30 minutes which was great. I guess I got lucky, even though I donít like to
use the idea of luck, but I thought I was going to have a harder time than I
did.
25) Which factor
was most important in getting the search results you got?:
a) luck
b) my search
techniques
c) the quality of
the databases or search engines I used
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: A and C. I normally donít like to assign luck to my search result,
but today I will, because I feel that way. The search engines I used were great
and certainly were part of my overall success.
26) Did you change the goals from the beginning to the end of your
search? Please explain what change and why. This search session I did not switch goals, I just stayed
on the up and up and got the job done, fairly fast considering how long I was
expecting it to take.
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
09/30/02
2) Time at start: 9:34pm
3) Time at end:
10:27pm
4) Briefly describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why.
I have complied maybe three or four web resources for both of my two annotated bibliography search topics. I am now going to look for more specific scholarly research articles on my topics. I need to get resources from varied areas, since most of what I have is from the Internet.
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today?
Type in hours and
minutes: 45 minutes.
6) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long should it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I feel that with college libraries and journal databases on the web I should be
able to locate this material with effort but not a struggle.
7) How important to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
It is a requirement that I include sources other than Internet references. This
is critical for my success, if I canít get it I will try later. But at some
point I must get it.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I will mildly upset today if I
find anything, because I donít have experience in searching scholarly
journals and research paper. I might learn about the process and how to do it,
more than finding anything, with this session.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I am not sure what to expect. I have a pre-idea about what I will encounter,
but this is new to me. I have never used the Internet to track down research
articles.
10) How likely is
it that you will become good at this type of task?
Type a number
here: 6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
pretty doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I am not sure if I will become ìgoodî at looking for these
materials. I do intent to find what I am looking for. I will have to wait and
evaluate my progress on this issue.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I donít have very much luck in other tasks, I get what I put in. A simple
equation. I rated my luck here a 5, in the middle, not bad luck not good luck,
just effort.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
slightly
motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: It is late at night. I just ended a 3 hours night class and I am
tired. I want to perform this search and do a good job. I am not that motivated
to stick it out, if I donít get results within .5 hours.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: The access of information has radically
changed with introduction of the Internet and search engines. I totally agree
with this statement. Some time the Internet can be too commercial, but that
means you are looking in commercial area or arenas.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: What I am looking for is information of a certain kind. The
topics of which I am hunting for are mainstream ideas, i.e., the difference
between how men and women handle relationships and different forms of
spirituality. There is much out there on these topics.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Since I am unfamiliar with searching
academic research articles I will have to put extra effort into learning the
basics. I will have to accept slow progress, as opposed to my normal, Internet
search on google, or yahoo.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1: www.psychcrawler.com/
Explain why you chose it?
I went to
apa.com and tried to use their website for searching but it is a subscription
based search, so I went accessed psychcrawler.com at their suggestion.
Database or search
engine 2: www.google.com
Explain why you chose it? I
always use this site in the beginning of my searches, I find it has the least
hidden commerciality to it.
Database or search
engine 3: www.search.com
Explain why you chose it? This
site is very effective, because it is a meta-search engine. That is, it is a
search engine that searches other search engines. I was shown it by a computer
friend of mine. He loves, and so do I, now.
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: When I went to the site for APA.org to find some journal
articles, I was bothered that they made you paid to have access. That irritated
me. Also I was getting commercial results, i.e., buy this book about
relationships, or seminars about relationships.
17) How anxious did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I was calm and cool, I stayed focused. I did get a little
anxious, but kept my cool.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Not bad at all. I did get frustrated at APAís site about having to pay to get
information. I did not paid and left. I went to a search engine they
recommended but it was unfruitful, so I did experience frustration there too. I
pulled out fast from those sites and was on my way to success at search.comís
meta-search function.
19) How much rage
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: No rage this time, I was able to track down some good
information.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: The same as others, I did not get the information right away, it
took some effort, but I was able to locate one good sources within 20 minutes.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I found an in-depth article about the differences men and women
have in communication, very connected to differences in relationship handling.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an explanation for your answer: I love the fact that I am on university computers using fast Ethernet Internet connection and for free, or as part of my student fees. I am very supportive of this environment. The search engines I used were very direct and produced good results. Minus the APA associated search engines. Overall searching experience for this session was great, I found material and I am done for the day.
23) How easy was
it to use the search engine or computer facility today?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
very
easy
very
difficult
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: The computer I used today is a
Macintosh ibook notebook. It is running the new operating system 10 and it is
very internet smart. The web search sites and engine I used produced mixed
results. The APA related sites gave me search result unrelated to my search
topic. The other search engines did a good job of returning useful quarries.
24) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long did it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Average time about 45 minutes to an hour.
25) Which factor
was most important in getting the search results you got?:
a) luck
b) my search
techniques
c) the quality of
the databases or search engines I used
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: B and C not A
The search
engine I used made a difference as to what I got in return. I really like www.search.comís meta-search, it gets good
results. My search techniques were important too, as I modified them as I made
progress. I made great progress when I used gender differences vs. men and
women differences.
26) Did you change the goals from the beginning to the end of your search? Please explain what change and why.
Did not change
my goal, I wanted to find PhD level information on gender differences in
relationship and I did just that.
8
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
10/01/02
2) Time at start:
5:20
3) Time at end: 6:13
4) Briefly describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why.
Today I want to
get Internet citations for my research topic of how men and women handle
relationships differently. I will look for specific article and research
reports with focuses on how men and women handle relationships differently, or
why they might handle them differently.
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today?
Type in hours and
minutes: 30 mins
6) If you compare this task to other search tasks youíve
done, how long should it take in your opinion?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an explanation for your answer: I am
looking for specific material but from a wide range of sources, i.e. Internet,
news articles and scientific reports of research. This will enable me take less
time because I will have more places to locate the stuff.
7) How important
to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Middle of the spectrum of importance. I feel that it will be beneficial to find
this material, but not critical.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number here: 3
1
2 3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I am
not pressed to find anything today. I have ample time to finish, so I donít
feel pressure. Getting upset about
not finding what I search is not in my consciousness today.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2 3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: There
must be articles and entries pertaining to what I am looking for on the
Internet. I will use effective search site and feel confident that I will find
studies that satisfy my criteria.
10) How likely is
it that you will become good at this type of task?
Type a number here:
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
pretty
doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I
donít want to use research in advanced forms. I think that it is useful to know
the basic and even a little more, and thru doing the process I will become
better, I donít know about ìgoodî.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I donít
think that luck is involved in searching on the Internet, machines and software
and your search entry are what matter. Maybe I am lucky if the sever I use is
functioning but this is common.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
slightly
motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I
have somewhere to go in 30 minutes, so I have placed limit on my time for this
session. I am motivated to stay for that time, but if I donít find what I am
looking for in that time I will end without results.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I
think that computers and search engine are very helpful as opposed to not
having them at all. BTW, computers MAKE THE INTERNET.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Without
a doubt there will be specifically something on what I am looking for. I just
have to locate in over the Internet.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I will look
and look, but looking does not require that much effort. I will try to get it
done fast, so that my looking can be over soon. I foresee not expending too
much energy.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1: I used googleís
search engine
Explain why you
chose it? I find that Google
is very good for giving on-target results so I always start my searches there.
Database or search
engine 2: I stayed with
google for this session since I was getting good results.
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I had a good time, I found what I was looking for and more,
great.
17) How anxious
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Null to the anxious factorÖ I was glad and excited.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an explanation for
your answer: My first search generated great results, which helped
me to even better places to look.
19) How much rage
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 0
1
2
3
4
5 6
7
8
9 10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I did not have any rage. No reason for rage.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Some days it takes awhile and mental effort to try to image in
your head what could be going wrong with your search, not today.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Hammer on the head, dead on. I found article, research reports, and an
educational book review on my topic. I was pleased.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an explanation for
your answer: I used a computer at work, which is wirelessly
connected to the Internet. I was able to move around my work office freely and
still remain on-line and searching for sources. Also the Internet did not experience
heavy traffic while I was on-line and this was good because it was fast. I was
supportive of my computing facilities today.
23) How easy was
it to use the search engine or computer facility today?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2 3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
very
easy
very
difficult
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: The search engines worked like clockwork, as they should. As well
as the Macintosh computer I was working on.
24) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long did it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3 4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: For some reason I was able to get on-target result today faster
and easier then other days. I think it has much to do with my wording of my
search entries. I am becoming better at listing what I want to look for.
25) Which factor
was most important in getting the search results you got?:
a) luck
b) my search
techniques
c) the quality of
the databases or search engines I used
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: not a, yes b, and yes c. I used google and got good results. Luck
is not something I think has to search results. I did use good search techniques
i.e., better wording of search entries.
26) Did you change
the goals from the beginning to the end of your search?
Please explain
what change and why. No. I stuck with my planned intention
of searching for sources on the topic of the how men and women handle a
relationship differently.
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
10/02/02
2) Time at start:
1:30pm
3) Time at end: 2:45pm
4) Briefly describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why.
I want to find
journal article on the subject of the various forms of spirituality that exist
in our society today. I am lacking
references in this area of scholarly reports/research for my annotated
bibliography. I have enough web or Internet material, but lack journal reports
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today?
Type in hours and
minutes: 60 minutes
6) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long should it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 6-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Find material and resources on this topic of spirituality has been trying. I
have been able to find many more relevant sites and articles on gender
differences in handling relationships than on different types of spirituality.
I have to refine my search some how.
7) How important
to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Todayís task is important because time I have only this area of research
remaining before I start my process of creating my annotated bibliography, I
want to get all the necessary citation and then do the annotated bibliography.
So this is important now.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I want to find something. I will be angry if I spend time and get nil.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: middle certainty. I feel like it could go both ways. Maybe I will
find very related to what I am looking for, maybe not. I have to delve in the
less familiar search engine that work on journal databases and I feel less
proficient on them.
10) How likely is
it that you will become good at this type of task? 5
Type a number
here: 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
pretty
doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
In the middle. I feel that I am not a real research minded person. I am more
into creation and self-learning then research and looking up information.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I normally get what I need eventually, even though it may take
longer than other tasks to complete. I would say I am more persistent then
lucky.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
slightly
motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I need to find this material, or else I am screwed/I have to do
it tomorrow or during another search today, so I am motivated to get it done.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Computer allow for the linking between all kinds of information.
Be it pictures, magazine article, new article, emails or journal article and
scientific reports. Databases of
information can be published on the web and anyone with a connection can have
equal access to them. This makes it easy for people to find what they are
looking for.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an explanation for
your answer: I am an optimist, I harbor not doubt that there is
reports and article on exactly what I am looking for, the question is will I
find it.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 7-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an explanation for
your answer: I am not up to
speed on how to correctly use and take advantage of database search operation,
for electronic journals and the such. This is will require effort to learn.
Also I will have to find some databases to look into and search trough. This
will be effortful as well.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1: UH manoaís website of Voyager library,
linked to Ingenta database search engine.
Explain why you
chose it? I want to try
something different in terms of a database journal searcher, I had never used
this Ingenta so I did this time. I had mixed results.
Database or search
engine 2: www.google.com
Explain why you
chose it? I always use this site to start my searches
Database or search
engine 3: www.search.comís meta search function
Explain why you
chose it? Always something returned in the
search that fits what your looking for.
Database or search
engine 3: www.seattletimes.com search function on
their homepage.
Explain why you
chose it? I am from Seattle and I knew I
could use their newspaper as a way to search for quality newspaper articles on
spirituality.
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: In the beginning when I could not find anything but commercial
site selling my spirituality I was irritated, but then I switched search
engines and was less irritated, once I started getting better returns for my
effort.
17) How anxious
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I did not have extra energy to waste on getting anxious, so I
just mono-tonally searched with my emotional input.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I thought that finding information on this spirituality topic
would prove easy. This is not the case. So, I got frustrated with the fact that
I could not just make 4-5 searches and find exactly what I need already, it
takes more then I want to give or think it I should need to give. It is also hard deciding what is OK to
accept and what is not relevant to your research.
19) How much rage
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: No rage today, I am a pretty laid back person, I donít get road
rage and I do try to see the big picture from the start. I do need to work on
expressing myself more though, because I express my rage in passive aggressive
methods, instead of displaying my rage outright.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Most of my searches take about 40 minutes, today it was more like one
hour.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My search today yielded some quality non-internet sources for my
topic on spirituality in our society. My main area of success came from
newspaper websites I ended up delving into. I found about 4 interesting
articles about the expansion of spiritual practices in our nation. This was
encouraging. I will have to decide which to include in my annotated
bibliography report.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I always use the same computer to do my searches for this project, My Macintosh
at work. It is always wonderful and I love it. The Internet connection here at
work is great, faster than cable modem and cheaper ñ Free. The search engines I
used today were mixed on how helpful they turned out to be. The ingenta journal
article database search engine was unintuitive and did not result in quality
search results. Google.com is always useful for looking up Internet based
materials and it proved it merit this time around, and the newspaper archive
search engine at the Seattletimes.com was ultra-accurate producing very
specific result, totally related to what I asked for.
23) How easy was it to use the search engine or computer
facility today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
very
easy
very
difficult
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: No problems using the equipment or the search engines. The
ingenta database search engine was different, (a lot of filters for a search),
and I left it before I started to want to figure it out.
24) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long did it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
My search session lasted for 75 minutes today. That was longer than an average
search by almost double with the average being about 40 minutes. I think some
of the additional time came from me jacking around on the ingenta database
search engine without getting anyway, except to know it did not know how to
function the search engine. It was too complicated, I am used to point and
click, not applying massive amount of filters to my search.
25) Which factor
was most important in getting the search results you got?:
a) luck
b) my search
techniques
c) the quality of
the databases or search engines I used
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Luck was not involved in my process today. I would say my search
techniques won me my prizes today, because I ended up changing my technique
from searching journal article databases to searching newspaper for relevant
articles and materials.
26) Did you change
the goals from the beginning to the end of your search? Please explain what
change and why. My goal from the start was to find
scholarly journal articles on different forms of spirituality in our society.
My goal did change by the end of my search, after attempting to carry out my
original goal failed with my inability to operate the journal article database
I was using. I just did not understand how to apply all the filters it offered
for searching. The change I made was to find materials by a different means, I
switched from looking in for articles and studies done on spirituality in
databases, to looking for the same reports in newspapers, this proved
effective.
PART 1: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE START OF THE SESSION:
1) Todayís date:
10/8/02
2) Time at start:
1:35pm
3) Time at end: 2:00pm
4) Briefly
describe the task for this sessionówhat youíre planning to do and why. Now, late into my search for information
on my two assigned topic questions, I am looking for additive material for my
search of different forms of spirituality. I have a good amount of resources
already collected but I want to try to look for some more.
5) How long do you
think this task will actually take today? Less time than normal since the bulk of my searching is done
already.
Type in hours and
minutes: 30 minutes
6) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long should it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
Compared to other searches I have done for this research I would say it will
take less time than other searches.
7) How important
to you is this task today?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
important
extremely
important
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: In this search session today I am looking for extra material that
will supplement what I already have. It is not that important.
8) How upset would
you be if you found nothing today?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
upset
extremely upset
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Due to the fact that I have already got what I need to complete
the assignment, I will not be upset if I find nothing. I am just doing a little
extra to see if I can come across anything interesting, by chance.
9) How sure are
you that you will succeed in this task?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
doubtful
almost
certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: All of my searches have produced at least one usable item, so I
have faith that this will happen again today. What I will find is the question,
not if I will succeed in finding something.
10) How likely is it that you will become good at this
type of task?
Type a number
here: 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
pretty
doubtful
almost certain
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Performing supplemental search session is not hard. The pressure
is off because the critical material has been collected and I am not pushed to
have to find anything. I guess this allows for more selectivity in collecting
data because I donít need anything.
11) How much luck
do you have in searching in comparison to other types of tasks?
Type a number
here: 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I have bad
luck
I always find something useful
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
I normally find related things when searching on the internet. I have better
luck with searching on the net than other things.
12) How motivated
are you to keep on trying today until you succeed?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3 4
5
6
7
8
9 10
slightly
motivated
very
highly motivated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My motivation level for today is low. I am not in a situation that
requires much expenditure of motivation because what I am doing is extra
collection, in addition to what I already have.
13) Computers and
search engines make it easy for people to find what theyíre looking for.
Type a number here: 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
I strongly
disagree
I very much agree
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Computer and search engines make it easy for people to find what
they are looking for because they connect people with vast amounts of
information.
14) How likely is
it that there will be something specific on what youíre looking for?
Type a number
here: 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
likely
very
likely
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: I am focusing on my topic of different spiritualities, so I am
sure that there will be something that relates to it, because spirituality such
a big issue.
15) How much
effort do you expect this task to take today?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5 6
7
8
9 10
not
much
a
tremendous amount
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
This task will take less time than others because it is not as important as
other I have done in the past. Plus I donít want to spend a lot of time, 30
minutes at most.
PART 2: FILL
THIS OUT DURING THE SESSION:
Please list the
databases and search engines you used today:
Database or search
engine 1: www.google.com
Explain why you
chose it? I use this search
site as a starting place for web exploration. I like its simple interface.
Database or search
engine 2: www.search.com
- meta search function
Explain why you
chose it? This is a search
engine I use when I need back up to googleís search engine. It is good because
it is a meta search engine. The search results from various other search
engines.
Database or search
engine 2: www.msn.com
Explain why you
chose it? Microsoftís
commercial search engine is very popular and I use it because of its
popularity.
PART 3: FILL
THIS OUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION:
16) How irritated
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
irritation
extremely
irritated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: No pressure; no irritation. I have already been irritated with
searching, but not today.
17) How anxious
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
not
anxious
extremely anxious
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Since I am only gathering extra material for supplementing what I
already have, I was cool and collected. I stayed calm the whole search session.
18) How frustrated
did you feel in todayís search session?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
frustrated
extremely
frustrated
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My search produced two quality sources that are worthy of
inclusion in my formal report. I did not meet difficulty in my search today, so
I was not frustrated.
19) How much rage
did you feel in todayís search task?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
no
rage
a
lot of rage
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: There was no event in my search session that prompted
rage in me. Everything went smooth, the search engines I used gave quality
results, and the internet connection I was using was seamless.
20) How much
effort did this task require of you today compared to other search tasks in
your experience?
Type a number
here: 2
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much
more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My search efforts today were minimal. I have already done the bulk
of my searches for collecting my sources for my annotated bibliography. I have
already output much effort on searching so today my search was more laid back
and about cruseing to see what I could find with minimal effort.
21) How would you
evaluate the relevance of what you found today?
Type a number
here: 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
not
relevant
very
relevant
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: During my search today I found two articles on spirituality in
our society. One of the sources is a UN declaration of freedom of religious
expression for people of its member countries. This is relevant to
spiritualities in our society today because the USA is a major player in the
UN. The other article I found was a magazine article on new age spiritualities
that are cropping up in our post-modern society. Both items are relevant to my
topic question.
22) How supportive
are you of the search engine or computer facility you used today?
Type a number
here: 10
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9 10
not
supportive
very
supportive
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: Sometimes the Internet connection at my work is down and this is
an inconvenience for performing Internet based search operations. Today there
was no such problems with Internet and the computer I use work with a hitch. I
am in support of the computer and search engines I used today.
23) How easy was
it to use the search engine or computer facility today?
Type a number
here: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
very
easy
very
difficult
Please type in an
explanation for your answer:
All of the search engines I used today were Internet search engines. I did not
use journal article database search engine for searching scholarly reports,
articles or review. This made a difference in the ease of use I experienced
because, internet search engines are designed for everybody to use, they are
less complicated and are more point and click orientated than database search
engines.
24) If you compare
this task to other search tasks youíve done, how long did it take in your
opinion?
Type a number
here: 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
much less than
others
much more than others
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: My search today only lasted 25 minutes, because I found two
articles with the first 20 minutes I was compelled to end rather then push on. Other search
sessions normally take about 35-40 minutes.
25) Which factor
was most important in getting the search results you got?:
a) luck
b) my search
techniques
c) the quality of
the databases or search engines I used
Please type in an
explanation for your answer: B and C. The search
techniques I used which I have been developing over the duration of searching
for my topic questions certainly did make an effective difference in my
results. Also the search engines I chose to use made a difference in my results
as well, because I use quality search engine that are reliable.
26) Did you change the goals from the beginning to the end of your
search? Please explain what change and why. I stayed with the same goals I set out with at the
beginning of my search. I am tenacious about things I set out to do.
End of Search Forms
Back to my Research Report | To My
Homepage | To My
Annotated Bibliography