Uncertainty, Affect, and Information Search

Kuhlthau´s Information Search Process stage (ISP) model was developed in the context of information retrieval with library users. In this model information searchers experience different stages and ultimately complete their information retrieval with end results. This study intends to understand whether Kuhlthau´s ISP model can be applied in Internet search. Data collected from 30 searchers suggested that the ISP model was applicable in studying searchers´ information retrieval behavior in simple tasks. However, searchers´ emotional responses differed from those of the ISP model for a complex task. By testing searchers using different search strategies, results suggested that search engines with multilanguage search functions provide an advantage for bilingual searchers in the Internet´s multilingual environment.