Abstract:

This paper aims to explore the distribution and evolutionary mechanism of novice users' cognition in their information retrieval. Eightythree volunteers have participated in this survey, which used multiphase information retrieval method. Participants have been asked to provide conception list right after they finish the five tasks by using CNKI, which include free use for three minutes (T1), factual search (T2), exploring search (T3), interfering search(T4) and a week after the experimental task complete (T5). Several results have been found out. Firstly, novice users' cognition of academic database mostly focuses on system, users' information literacy and task context, while system mainly refer to its microfunction, information resource, information retrieval method, information organization, backend system and interface of academic database. Secondly, there are several evolutionary modes of novice users' cognition on system. Thirdly, the type of retrieval task is a significant contributing factor on novice users' cognition evolution in their interacting with academic database. This research can provide methodology implication for simulating and exploring users' cognition evolution, and suggestions for users' information literacy training.

Key words: Novice user, Cognition distribution, Cognition evolution, Mental model, Academic database