My research in information behavior is currently focused on:

  • Current project:
    • User interaction & information behavior on knowledge graph systems/interfaces (from 2022)
  • Old projects:
    • Information sharing on Social Networking Sites
    • Browsing and relevance judgment in health social media sites

User interaction & information behavior on knowledge graph systems/interfaces

I expect knowledge graph systems and graph visualization interfaces to become prevalent in the future. This will open up new areas of user studies — user interaction with knowledge graph systems/interfaces, and information behavior on such interfaces.

My first study will be an evaluation of a knowledge graph visualization interface (the Zubir Said Knowledge Graph interface, https://ZubirSaid.sg) — to evaluate whether novice users can use a knowledge graph visualization interface to find information and to synthesize related information for writing an essay. Specifically, the objectives are:

  • to find out to what extent users can find information by examining the graph display, by tracing links in the graph, and by displaying neighbor nodes; as well as issues encountered.
  • to find out to what extent users can synthesize related information by examining the graph display, for the purpose writing an essay on a topic.

Zubir Said (1907-1987) was the composer of the Singapore national anthem, and a pioneering musician and songwriter in Singapore. Zubir Said’s personal archive was donated to the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and digitized to make the materials available on the Web. I developed a knowledge graph to organize a subset of the digitized materials, and a graph visualization interface to present information and content from the collection.

A task-based evaluation will be conducted using a videoconferencing system. Participants will be provided with a short training session on how to use the interface, then asked to perform information-finding tasks on the interface.

Browsing and relevance judgment in health social media sites

  1. Pian. W., Khoo, C.S.G., Li, G., & Chi, J. (2019). Factors affecting browsing duration on a health discussion forum: Analysis of eye-tracking data. Information Research, 24(1), paper isic1837. (Available at: http://InformationR.net/ir/24-1/isic2018/isic1837.html)
  2. Pian, W., Khoo, C.S.G., & Chi, J. (2017). Automatic classification of users’ health information need context: Logistic regression analysis of mouse-click and eye-tracker data. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(12):e424. (Available at: http://www.jmir.org/2017/12/e424)
  3. Pian, W., Khoo, C.S.G., & Chang, Y.K. (2016). The criteria people use in relevance decisions on health information: An analysis of user eye movements when browsing a health discussion forum. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(6):e136. (Available at: http://www.jmir.org/2016/6/e136/)
  4. Pian, W., Khoo, C.S.G., & Chang, Y.K. (2014). Relevance judgment when browsing a health discussion forum: Content analysis of eye fixations. LIBRES, 24(2), 132-147. (Available at: http://libres-ejournal.info/1408/)

Information sharing on Social Networking Sites

Two kinds of studies are being carried: a multi-country questionnaire survey, and content analysis of SNS posts.

  1. Survey paper: Khoo, C.S.G. (2014). Issues in information behaviour on social media. LIBRES, 24(2), 75-96. (Available at: http://libres-ejournal.info/1399/)
  2. Chia, J., Geow, J.C.L., & Khoo, C.S.G. (2015). Characteristics of information shared on Facebook. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Asia-Pacific Library and Information Education and Practice (pp. 231-243). Manila: University of the Philippines School of Library and Information Studies. [PDF]
  3. Ramaswami, C., Murugathasan, M., Narayanasamy, P., & Khoo, C.S.G. (2014). A survey of information sharing on Facebook. In Proceedings of ISIC, the Information Behaviour Conference, Leeds, 2-5 September, 2014: Part 1 (paper isicsp8). (Available at: http://InformationR.net/ir/19-4/isic/isicsp8.html)
  4. Zhang, X., Gao, Q., Khoo, C.S.G., & Wu, A. (2013). Categories of friends on social networking sites: An exploratory study. In The 5th International Conference on Asia-Pacific Library and Information Education and Practice (A-LIEP 2013): Proceedings (pp. 244-259). Khon Kaen City, Thailand: University of Khon Kaen, Faculty of Humanties and Social Sciences. [PDF]