Discussing design: How search interface features support job tasks in an institutional repository

Search engines are increasingly becoming a primary method of finding information. As organizations increase their collections of electronic documents, searching is also becoming a method of accessing institutional knowledge. This paper presents the findings of an inductive, interpretive field study on how institutional repository searchers describe their search experience in relation to their job tasks. Qualitative data were collected during a brainstorming meeting with searchers at a large public institution. The findings suggest that search interfaces require flexibility in order to accommodate multiple job tasks. The participants want direct control through interface customization features. They also want to cut down on repetitive search actions. Overall, institutional searchers want to manipulate the interface to reflect specific work tasks. The relationships identified in this study add to the existing quantitative data on the relationship between task and technology. This qualitative research approach provides detailed, authentic task descriptions for future usability testing.