Purpose

Existing literature has elicited the external behaviors of cross-device search but not much is known about users' cognition of cross-device search. The study aims to explore how users perceive the cross-device search by combining with the mental models and how motivations affect the users' understanding of cross-device search.

Design/methodology/approach

The research questions are addressed through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 59 users. Prior to the interview, the user is asked to complete a cross-device search task designed with the simulation of controlled and autonomous motivations to gain a real experience. The concepts of mental models are coded according to the constructivist grounded theory method.

Findings

The study finds the users' mental models of cross-device search consist of four dimensions: Element, Quality, Function and Issue. The effect of motivation on the mental models is tested as significant in terms of the Quality and Function aspects. The controlled motivation affects the user's perception of how the device switch influence the search and the autonomous motivation influences the user's opinion of search system functions.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is found to extend the existing knowledge of cross-device search and update the mental models of information search in the current multi-device environment. The findings inform the future study of cross-device search and practices of search system design.

中文翻译：

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受控和自主动机下用户跨设备搜索的心智模型

目的

现有文献已经引出了跨设备搜索的外部行为，但关于用户对跨设备搜索的认知知之甚少。本研究旨在结合心理模型探索用户如何感知跨设备搜索，以及动机如何影响用户对跨设备搜索的理解。

设计/方法/途径

研究问题是通过与 59 位用户进行半结构化面对面访谈来解决的。在采访之前，要求用户完成一项跨设备搜索任务，该任务旨在模拟受控和自主动机，以获得真实体验。心智模型的概念是根据建构主义扎根理论方法编码的。

发现

研究发现，用户对跨设备搜索的心理模型包括四个维度：元素、质量、功能和问题。动机对心理模型的影响在​​质量和功能方面被测试为显着。受控动机影响用户对设备切换如何影响搜索的感知，自主动机影响用户对搜索系统功能的看法。

原创性/价值

发现这项研究的贡献是扩展了跨设备搜索的现有知识，并更新了当前多设备环境中信息搜索的心智模型。这些发现为未来的跨设备搜索研究和搜索系统设计实践提供了信息。