Cultural Differences in Using Search-and-Retrieval Technologies in E-Learning Contexts: An Exploratory Study of Arab and North American Learners’ Use of Topic Maps

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Authors

Vivek Venkatesh, Roukana Sanjakdar, Steven Shaw, Dennis Dicks, Gretchen Lowerison, Dai Zhang, Concordia University, Canada

EdMedia + Innovate Learning, Jun 27, 2005 in Montreal, Canada ISBN 978-1-880094-56-3

Abstract

This paper follows up on studies reported in Dicks et al.(EdMedia 2004) and Shaw et al. (ELearn 2004), both of which focused on improving the reliability and efficiency in current database-oriented search-and-retrieval mechanisms in e-learning applications through the use of topic map technology (ISO/IEC 13250). In the present investigation, we compare two groups, namely, Arab and North American graduate learners' use of topic maps in searching for online resources to complete an essay assignment. The development of our topic maps is grounded in a theory of cognitive information-processing and information retrieval. Sources of data include (a) hard data drawn from observations, tracking of search-related steps, and results of searches; and (b) soft data concerning judgments of utility of information and user's understandings of the search process. We expect the results to indicate differences in precision and recall-related measures between the two groups, as well as illuminate qualitative aspects of how culture might explain differences in information-seeking behaviors.

Citation

Venkatesh, V., Sanjakdar, R., Shaw, S., Dicks, D., Lowerison, G. & Zhang, D. (2005). Cultural Differences in Using Search-and-Retrieval Technologies in E-Learning Contexts: An Exploratory Study of Arab and North American Learners’ Use of Topic Maps. In P. Kommers & G. Richards (Eds.), Proceedings of ED-MEDIA 2005--World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications (pp. 4694-4699). Montreal, Canada: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved March 19, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/20819.