High Literacy Users: Combined Cognitive Task Analysis

Motivation – According to the UK’s National Skills for Life survey carried out in 2003, 16 % or equivalent to 5.2 million of the UK population presented low levels of literacy (Williams, et al. 2003). In this study we investigate the differences in information seeking behaviours between low and high literacy users of an on-line social service system. Research approach – Ten volunteers participated in the study. Using the National Skills for Life Survey, five were classified as high literacy; five as low literacy. All participants were asked to think-aloud whilst carrying out the information search using the “Adviceguide” website. The four tasks were of varying difficulty; easy, medium and difficult. Observations, video recording, and a semi structured interview technique that uses cognitive probes were used. The qualitative data were transcribed and analysed using Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) Grounded Theory and Wong and Blandford (2002) Emergent Themes Analysis approach. Findings/Design – We identified eight themes o