The "Active Search" Hypothesis

Abstract

While research shows that web search plays a role throughout the creative process, less is known about about how people use web search to learn and frame their thinking about an open problem. People need web search to gather information about a problem area, but this can also influence the rest of the creative process. To understand how web search affects early-stage design, we collected and analyzed search log and self-report data from 34 students in a project-based design class. Participants reported struggling with scoping broad, ill-defined information goals into queries, learning domain-specific language, and assessing the usefulness of information. Analysis found that more active and diverse search behavior (i.e. issuing more frequent and diverse queries, and opening more webpages) related to more progress in early-stage design (i.e. gathering more facts, articulating more insights, and developing better problem frames). Based on these findings, we discuss implications for designing search tools to support peoples' creative processes.