Exploring individual user attitudes towards performance with web search engines: An extension study

As the Internet fulfills an increasingly important role in society, study into human behavior and interaction with the technology becomes key to the development of improved systems. As a result, the research agenda of the authors seeks to identify the role of individual differences with users of technology and its subsequent impact on performance. In this initial study, we examine an instance of individual differences with users of the World Wide Web by evaluating user attitudes and performance with Web search engines. Search engine importance is connected to their role as the primary vehicle for locating content on the Internet. Prior research into user attitude has shown a connection with use of technology. In our study we replicate, extend, and critique an investigation conducted by Liaw and Huang (2003) into user attitudes toward search engines as information retrieval tools. Liaw and Huang found that factors such as individual computer experience, quality of search systems, motivation, and perceptions of technology acceptance impact users desire to use search engines as a tool for information retrieval. However, the connection is not drawn to actual individual user performance with a searching task. Based upon the analysis of our data, we were unable to replicate the results achieved in the Liaw and Huang study or draw a connection between these factors and performance. This finding, that our analysis yielded different results, supports the need for further investigation into individual differences and suggests areas for future research.