Approaches to User-Based Studies in Information Seeking and Retrieval: A Sheffield Perspective

The paper traces the development of user-based research in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Sheffield over the past 40 years, and highlights and assesses the different research questions addressed and main characteristics of projects undertaken. Four phases of user-based studies relating to information seeking and retrieval are identified including: preliminary studies on library users; empirical studies on information user groups by the Centre for research on User Studies; the development of a theoretical framework for user studies; and the integration of information seeking and retrieval research. The review concludes that user-based studies have evolved linking together studies on information use and provision, information seeking behaviour and the design and evaluation of actual retrieval systems. The unifying element has been the emphasis placed on methodological issues. More recent work is transcending user-orientated and system perspectives giving way to a more integrated approach and emergent interaction paradigm for user studies.