[Sigia-l] Are web users more sophisticated

[Avi Rappoport]

At 11:08 PM -0400 7/14/04, Susan Doran wrote:

>We mused over this questions of user "sophistication," and my friend
>framed it up thus: (1) many people have become more or less accustomed
>to continually learning--vis-a-vis technology--and perhaps the argument
>that people just want to type in a keyword is becoming outmoded--i.e.,
>more people are ready to learn truly more advanced searching; and

>(2) for some new users, even learning to *type* is a challenge. I know
>that's true for my father, for example. So when he sees a wide open
>space responds by (a) typing URLs into the Yahoo search box, or, as
>frequently, (b) typing search terms into the Address bar.

I think it's also a question of the "role" that the particular person 
is working in.  I find this a lot in corporations: when a scientist 
is doing research or a marketing person is doing business 
intelligence or a lawyer is looking u case law, they *are* willing to 
use advanced search functions.

But when the same person is trying to navigate their intranet, or 
looking up bonus policies, holiday schedules, package transport, or 
online meeting software, they will revert to the "one word, why isn't 
it as good as google?" mode.

There's a real 80/20 relationship: 80% of intranet and generic web 
site searches are short, simple and often navigational.  20% are 
actual research.  Trying to accommodate both kinds of information 
need is hard!

Avi

--
   Avi Rappoport, Search Engine Consultant <mailto:avirr at searchtools.com> 
   Complete Guide to Search Engines for Web Sites and Intranets
             <http://www.searchtools.com>