Presentation of search results

1. Presentation of search results Guidelines for deliverables tefkos@rutgers.edu; http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~tefko/ Tefko Saracevic

2. Central ideas • A search is not finished with the search • Effectiveness of results is enhanced with proper presentation • Added value Tefko Saracevic

3. Goals • Create reports that • delight • enlighten • assure • guide to next • In a format that is • easy to interpret & use • maximize utilization for decision-making • minimize information overload • But don’t go overboard Tefko Saracevic

4. Why? • To enhance • potential use of information • comprehension • assimilation • recall • user satisfaction • To save time for user • To boost your professional position and success Tefko Saracevic

5. Basic considerations • Presentation is governed by • user characteristics • user task • request • expected use • economics (time & money) • Form follows function • there is no one-size-fits-all • deliverables are mostly customized • but standardized templates, forms, packages may be used for given occassion Tefko Saracevic

6. Clues for customizing • Information about a desired deliverable are gathered • from user – interview, request • user model • analysis or description about how user is using information • Experience • own, from previous encounters • suggestions from literature & studies • considerable body of knowledge on the topic of presentation in a number of fields, e.g. visualization, effective communication, writing skills • for writing get Strunk & White Elements of Style Tefko Saracevic

7. Restrictions • Economics • time & money available • Resources available • Technical capabilities • Institutional policies • User requirements, tolerances, knowledge … • Knowledge and skill in packaging and presenting information: You Tefko Saracevic

8. Worst scenario • Delivering print-outs of results or pages • no arrangement • no editing, sorting … • no explanation • equals dumping • Everything else is added value • it could be minimum, or it could increase with added processing Tefko Saracevic

9. Enlighten: Synthesis of results • Varies in analysis and detail • Minimum: Executive summary • salient steps & findings • succinct - often bulleted • Higher level: Overview • summation of pertinent information found • extracting nuggets of gold • including recommendations • Highest: Report or brief • written narrative, trends analysis, compilation of findings • e.g. market reports • articles found serve as references Tefko Saracevic

10. Overall:Content guidelines • In executive summary • restate the search query • review sources consulted • explain search strategy • reiterate key findings • summarize recommendations • These could be elaborated in report • Include full & organized search results • each section preceded by a synthesis • Include recommendations (if applicable) • about sources • guidelines for user to proceed Tefko Saracevic

11. Delight: Packaging guidelines • Users should want to read your report • make an attractive title page • make it readable • wide margins, larger font, serif typeface • use section headings liberally • use visual elements where information lends itself • graphs, tables, charts • simplify complex not complicate simple • make it easily handable • don’t mess with paper clips & rubber bands Tefko Saracevic

12. Delight … (cont.) • Length • depends heavily on user • short summary backed by longer original documents • Source documents • well organized • could be converted from different types, formats into a standard one • Could make & use a standard • template, if repeatedly delivering • stylized headings (e.g. from Word) • Could also provide a digitized version/section • to use hyperlinks, & for cut & paste Tefko Saracevic

13. Organize: Search results guidelines • What to include depends on sources, request, user requirements, domain • e.g. bibl. citations, abstracts, selected full texts, tables, graphs, tables of content • web sources, screen shots of web pages • Organize by • topic(s), each preceded by a short summary • possibly also by assessment • relevance • potential value, timeliness • authority, comprehensiveness • readability, clarity Tefko Saracevic

14. Assessments – if used • Relevance to topic • provide your own judgment and appropriateness and explain your criteria • Value to task • explain your consideration • Authority • if not obvious, explain authority or lack about items • Qualify • You are NOT doctor, lawyer, chemist, historian … but you know about information sources • “It would appear…” • “Judging from…” • “In this researcher (study) opinion…” Tefko Saracevic

15. Assure guidelines • Users need to be assured that they received best information • (for the time & money available) • In the report describe in appropriate places • sources & methodology used • parameters of search • inclusions, exclusions • definitions of terms, if necessary • citing specific sources in summary & referring to articles • if assessed, criteria and procedures Tefko Saracevic

16. Recommendations • Include ( details depend on user & request) • where can the user get further information on his/her own • if citations only, where & how can full articles be obtained • what institutions may be most relevant or helpful to consult • where and how can the user get training in searching e.g. the internet • who are possible contacts – addresses, emails … • how much would cost if proceeding on commercial sources or professional searchers Tefko Saracevic

17. Common user criteria • My question was understood and addressed • I do not have to comb through 50 pages to get the answer • I can easily follow what was presented • Now I know more for decisions I have to make, I am less uncertain • Or: I can’t deal with this – it is a mess Tefko Saracevic

18. At the end • How information is delivered can make a or break a search • or you & your library • Guidelines for good practices exist (& should be followed) to: • enlighten – synthesis • organize - content & inclusion • delight – presentation • asses • assure • recommend Tefko Saracevic

19. Tips • To render a free logo or button for your report go to: http://cooltext.com/Default.aspx • Formatting a research report http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/formatting.htm • APA style guide http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/apa4b.htm • Information visualization projects http://bailando.sims.berkeley.edu/infovis.html Tefko Saracevic

20. I like this book: Tefko Saracevic