Joseph Sharit|Jessica Taha|Ronald W. Berkowsky|Halley Profita|Sara J. Czaja
Online Information Search Performance and Search Strategies in a Health Problem-Solving Scenario
University of Miami|University of Miami|University of Miami|University of Colorado System|University of Miami
although access internet health information beneficial solving complex healthrelated problems online challenging many individuals study investigated performance sample 60 adults ages 18 85 years using internet resolve relatively complex health information problem impact age internet experience cognitive abilities measures search time amount search search accuracy examined model internet information seeking developed guide characterization participants search strategies internet experience found impact performance measures older participants exhibited longer search times lower amounts search similar search accuracy performance younger counterparts overall greater search accuracy related increased amount search increased search duration primarily attributable higher cognitive abilities processing speed reasoning ability executive function tendency younger greater internet experience higher cognitive abilities use bottomup ie analytic search strategy although use topdown ie browsing strategy necessarily unsuccessful implications findings future studies design interventions discussed