Designing Search Analytics with a User-Centered Approach
Abstract: Over the last decade, as the amount of digital information has exploded, searchhas emerged as one of the most important tools available to help us find what weare looking for. But search is not a simple silver bullet that solves the problem- creating an effective and useful search service requires a lot of work on manydifferent levels.A Search Analytics application is one part of a successful search service. Itprovides information about how the search service is used; who is using it, whatare they looking for, what are they (not) finding, etc. A Search Analytics applicationtakes quantitative data gathered from the search service, processes it andpresents it as different metrics which can be tracked and analysed.This master thesis from the Interaction Design Programme at Chalmers Universityof Technology aims to investigate relevant aspects regarding the design ofa search analytics application from a user centered perspective.A description of potential users and their level of knowledge, work situation,goals and attitude regarding Search Analytics was created, as well as a list ofmetrics and tasks which a Search Analytics application should o↵er to supportthe users and their organisations in their work. A prototype of a concept design,containing a sub-set of these metrics and tasks, was also designed, implementedand tested.The work shows that a lot of attention must be directed at the needs of thepotential users and their organisations - there is no one solution that works acrossthe board.This master thesis was done with the support of Findwise AB, a consultancyfirm working with enterprise search solutions, and conducted at their Gothenburgoffices.
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