Process patterns and conceptual changes in knowledge representations during information seeking and sensemaking: A qualitative user study

The construction of knowledge representations during sensemaking resembles meaningful learning in which conceptual changes to knowledge structure take place in various forms. Guided by a cognitive process model of sensemaking expanding prior models with ideas from learning and cognitive psychology, we conducted a qualitative user study of 15 participants with news writing and business analysis tasks to investigate the evolvement of their knowledge structures. We collected and analysed think-aloud protocols along with recorded screen activities, intermediate work products including notes and concept maps, and the final reports. Findings suggested that: (a) the sensemaking process can be viewed as composed of several iterations that fall into nine slightly varied common patterns, which make up the components of sensemaking; (b) conceptual changes fall into three broad classes - accretion, tuning and restructuring; and (c) changes in forms of representation seem to assist in sensemaking. These findings provide insights for system design that assists in sensemaking and intelligent use of information.Beta Phi Mu Library and Information Studies Honor SocietySCI(E)EISSCIARTICLEpengyi@pku.edu.cn1,SI59-784