Children searching information on the Internet: Performance on children's interfaces compared to Google

Children frequently make use of the Internet to search for information. However, research shows that children experience many problems with searching and browsing the web. The last decade numerous search environments have been developed, especially for children. Do these search interfaces support children in effective information-seeking? And do these interfaces add value to today’s popular search engines, such as Google? In this explorative study, we compared children’s search performance on four interfaces designed for children, with their performance on Google. We found that the children did not perform better on these interfaces than on Google. This study also uncovered several problems that children experienced with these search interfaces, which can be of use for designers of future search interfaces for children

Variability of User Interaction with Multi-Platform News Feeds

The development of the World Wide Web (WWW) and proliferation of web enabled devices have allowed various news agencies to enrich their traditional method of distribution of news through TV, radio and print with simultaneous broadcast through the Web. The varying nature of devices through which the Web is accessed warrants different ways to feed the same content. This precipitates some variation in the way users interact with the news feeds. In this paper, we investigate how mental models and information scent affect this variation and user interaction on the whole. We present results from a preliminary survey conducted to capture the current news gathering behavior of general population and verify our assumptions. We then present observations from the study conducted using BBC news site over laptop, PDA and a cell phone

Study of menu selection based on human information processing : spreading activation approach

The determination of the appropriate interface texts for efficient menu selection, based on information retrieval from long term memory, is important to web site design. A psychological theory, the spreading activation model, is used to explain the users\u27 information searching behavior in menu selection tasks. Two experiments were performed: a spreading activation test and an actual performance test with a real menu. In the first experiment, the degree of relatedness between two text labels in a menu was evaluated. By using two levels of menu structure, we investigated the user\u27s search for semantically related targets and for a known target respectively. The latter was determined by target locations and the number of menu items, allowing selection time to be predicted by Fitts\u27 law. On the other hand, the former was strongly dependent on each subject\u27s memory, and required a significant cognitive load. As seen in the total performance measure, semantic relations of text information played an important role in menu selection. Consequently, the semantic distance for related information was strongly correlated with error rate (r²=0.740) and total menu selection time (r²=0.751). In comparing the spreading activation test with actual performance, response time in the spreading activation test also showed a strong correlation with error rate (r²=0.736) which significantly affected menu selection. This study supports the use of interface languages for certain information structures and provides a semantic approach to the design of menus

Information-Seeking Time: Only a Subset of Home Page Elements Matters

During goal oriented web navigation does the competition for web selection depend on all navigation options or only those options which are more likely to be functional for information seeking? Here we provide evidence in favour of the latter alternative. Within a representative set of real web sites of variable breadth, the time required to reach a goal located at the depth of two clicks from the home page is accounted for by C, an objective measure of the complexity of the start page, based on the number of links weighted by the number and type of embedding web elements. Our results demonstrate how focusing on links while ignoring other web elements optimizes the deployment of attentional resources necessary to navigation

Automated computational cognitive-modeling: goal-specific analysis for large websites

The information architecture of websites is the most important remaining source of usability problems. Therefore, this research explores automated cognitive computational analysis of the information architecture of large websites as a basis for improvement. To support goal-specific analysis, an enhanced model of web navigation was implemented with a novel database-oriented approach. Web navigation was simulated on the information architecture of two large sites. With the improved labeling system of the information architecture, simulation results showed a significant reduction in navigation problems. The results of two experiments demonstrate that sites with improved information architecture result in better outcomes of user information retrieval. Our database-oriented approach is extensible, allowing non-goal-specific analysis, modeling of nontext media content, and analysis of the organization- and navigation systems of information architectures.</jats:p

Orthonasal olfactory influences on consumer food behaviour

It is often suggested in the popular press that food chains deliberately introduce enticing product aromas into (and in the immediate vicinity of) their premises in order to attract customers. However, despite the widespread use of odours in the field of sensory marketing, laboratory research suggests that their effectiveness in modulating people's food behaviours depends on a range of contextual factors. Given the evidence that has been published to date, only under a subset of conditions is there likely a measurable effect of the presence of ambient odours on people's food attitudes and choices. This narrative historical review summarizes the various ways in which food odours appear to bias people's food preferences (appetite) and food choices (food consumption and purchase). Emphasis is placed on those experimental studies that have been designed to investigate how the characteristics of the olfactory stimuli (e.g., the congruency between the olfactory cues and the foods, intensity and duration of exposure to odours, and taste properties of odours) modulate the effects of olfactory cues on food behaviour. The review also explores the moderating roles of individual differences, such as dietary restraint, Body Mass Index (BMI), genetic and cultural differences in odour sensitivity and perception. Ultimately, following a review of empirical studies on food-related olfaction, current approaches in scent marketing are discussed and a research agenda is proposed to help encourage further studies on the effective application of scents in promoting healthy foods

Enough is enough! Understanding environmentally driven multisensory experiences

The importance of sensory perception and sensory stimulation in creating pleasant consumption experiences has received increasing attention within recent years. Yet, while numerous studies investigate antecedents and consequences of sensory perception specific to a certain sense (vision, touch, audition, smell, and taste), limited research addresses sensation from a broader perspective by examining what constitutes sensing in sensations. Multiple studies are employed to investigate the totality of sensation rather than any sense specific sensation, by framing sensational experiences within the long tradition of atmospherics research. Here, the construct of need for sensation is conceptualized to reflect the notion of totality of sensation. Following a comprehensive review of common overlaps among three main research areas – atmospherics, servicescape, and sensory marketing – exploratory research guides the development of a new scale measuring the construct need for sensation. The current study posits need for sensation as the manner by which consumers extract value through multiple sensory inputs, both focal and non-focal. This new need for sensation scale encompasses two dimensions namely sensory enjoyment and sensory avoidance, which both can be administered simultaneously to reflect different facets of need for sensation. The scale is validated as part of an experimental design to examine how different environments and levels of sensory stimulation impact consumers. Findings show that high intensity of sensation environments lower the consumer\u27s ability to accurately complete perceptual and cognitive tasks. However, these high intensity surroundings also elevate hedonic value leading to a more positive and value-added consumption experience. With regard to need for sensation, high need for sensation individuals express higher levels of hedonic value, satisfaction, and positive affect in stimulating environments; thus, confirming the validity of the new scale to detect individual differences across consumers. Results further affirm that while high need for sensation individuals gain more pleasure from a highly sensory stimulation experience; their performance is not negatively impacted. Overall, this research integrates atmospherics, services, and sensory marketing research to advance the marketing discipline. Key findings provide a starting point for an extensive stream of research focusing on sensory value-added consumption experiences

New trends in marketing: the impact in convenience store's atmosphere

The decision to apply atmospheric elements to the store environment has been implemented by many managers with favorable outcomes for the company and the clients. Despite the usual application of the traditional stimulus (e.g. color, light, music, scent) the effect of implementing new trends in marketing on the retail space remains unclear. These future trends include hybrid stores, interactive screens, new payment methods, customer-employee interaction, revolving decors, retailtainment, storytelling, co-creation, reverse channels and store mood zones. The effects of these trends become even more unpredictable if these are implemented in the convenience store sector. Hence, the goal of this master’s dissertation is to validate the impact of the new trends in marketing in convenience store’s atmosphere to impact the Portuguese customers. This dissertation reached the established goal through the study of the relevant literature and empirical application. Based on case studies from the literature, the research questions were formulated. These research questions consider the impact of hybrid stores, interactive screens, new payment methods, customer-employee interaction, revolving decor and new products, services and retail formats on the convenience store environment. Furthermore, the empirical research included an exploratory and qualitative methodology (focus group and virtual reality). The following results were confirmed in this study: displaying a parapharmacy showcase will increase the sales of the store (hybrid stores); an employee’s positive attitude will increase the satisfaction of the experience and affect the loyalty of the customer (customer-employee interaction); selling healthy food will increase the shopping intentions; the existence of a printer/copy machine will increase the interest of going to a convenience store and a fresh and natural convenience store concept will attract more customers (new retail products, services and retail formats). Other trends such as the interactive menu screen and the revolving decor (digital signage) were considered with some potential even though the insights were not sufficient to validate the research questions. The rest of the research questions were not conclusive or rejected by the empirical findings. Despite the shortcomings of this study, convenience store retail managers in Portugal must, therefore, understand the potential of these solutions towards convenience stores, but must also always consider the consumption habits of Portuguese consumers.Estímulos sensoriais em ambiente de loja (cor, luz, música e aroma), têm sido largamente implementados por muitos gestores trazendo resultados bastante positivos tanto para as empresas como para os clientes que entram na loja. Pelo contrário se considerarmos as novas tendências de marketing estas acabam por ainda não ser muito abordadas na atmosfera de loja. Estas novas tendências incluem lojas híbridas, ecrãs interativos, novos métodos de pagamentos, relação empregado-cliente, decoração rotativa, "retailtainment", "storytelling", co-criação, canais invertidos e criação de vários ambientes em loja. O impacto destas novas tendências é ainda menos estudado no sector das lojas de conveniência. Assim sendo, o principal objetivo desta dissertação é validar o impacto destas novas tendências de marketing no contexto do ambiente das lojas de conveniência, em especial para os consumidores portugueses. A questão de partida foi definida após um estudo intensivo da literatura científica e aplicação empírica existente sobre o tema. As questões de investigação foram definidas tendo por base estudos de caso das novas tendências existentes na literatura. As questões de investigação pretendem avaliar o impacto de algumas tendências num ambiente de loja de conveniência, tais como lojas híbridas, ecrãs interativos, novos métodos de pagamento, interação entre empregados e clientes, decoração rotativa e novos produtos, serviços e formatos de retalhos. O método adotado para responder a estas questões foi uma metodologia exploratória e qualitativa ("focus group" e experimentação de realidade virtual). Foram aprovadas as seguintes questões de investigação: a exposição de uma vitrine de parafarmácia irá aumentar as vendas da loja (lojas híbridas); uma atitude positiva por parte dos empregados aumenta a satisfação do cliente e influencia e lealdade do mesmo (interação entre empregados e clientes); vender comida saudável numa loja de conveniência aumenta as intenções de consumo de quem visita a loja; a existência de uma máquina de fotocópias aumenta o interesse a ir a uma loja de conveniência e por fim um novo conceito de loja de conveniência com produtos frescos e naturais vai atrair mais consumidores (novos produtos, serviços e formatos de retalhos). Outras tendências de marketing apresentadas na parte empírica, como menus interativos e decoração rotativa (sinalização digital) foram consideradas com algum potencial, apesar do "feedback" dos participantes não ter sido totalmente conclusivo. As restantes questões de investigação do estudo foram rejeitadas ou tiveram resultados inconclusivos.Apesar das limitações deste estudo, os gestores das cadeias de lojas de conveniência em Portugal devem capitalizar estas soluções para as suas lojas, não esquecendo os hábitos de consumo do consumidor Português

Goal Attainment on Long Tail Websites: An Information Foraging Approach

Information foraging theory (IFT) has emerged within the previous decade as a way of explaining the behavior of individuals as they hunt for information (Pirolli, 2007). In IFT, users forage for information using their metaphorical sense of smell which helps guides them through patchy areas of their environment. This preliminary research leverages IFT to build two versions of a clickstream model of information foraging that uses clickstream data to explain goal achievement. The goal being examined is the purchase of a product or submission of a contact form at long tail websites (i.e., sites with limited traffic). The first version of the model uses session-level panel data to examine across-website goal-seeking browsing patterns. Page-level data is used in the second version of the model to reason about browsing patterns within a website. The hypotheses and their related measures are presented for each version of the model