Seeker optimization algorithm:a novel stochastic search algorithm for global numerical optimization

A novel heuristic search algorithm called seeker op- timization algorithm （SOA） is proposed for the real-parameter optimization. The proposed SOA is based on simulating the act of human searching. In the SOA, search direction is based on empir- ical gradients by evaluating the response to the position changes, while step length is based on uncertainty reasoning by using a simple fuzzy rule. The effectiveness of the SOA is evaluated by using a challenging set of typically complex functions in compari- son to differential evolution （DE） and three modified particle swarm optimization （PSO） algorithms. The simulation results show that the performance of the SOA is superior or comparable to that of the other algorithms.

Tourism demand forecasting and tourists’search behavior:evidence from segmented Baidu search volume

Given the importance of web search volume for reflecting tourists'preferences for certain tourism services and destinations,incorporating these data into forecasting models can significantly improve forecasting performance.This study enriches the literature on tourism demand forecasting and tourists'search behavior through segmented Baidu search volume data.First,this study divides Baidu search volume data based on volume sources and periods.Then,by analyzing the most relevant keywords in tourism demand in different segments,this study captures the dynamic characteristics of tourist search behavior.Finally,this study adopts a series of econometric and machine learning models to further improve the performance of tourism demand and forecasting.The findings indicate that tourists’search behavior has changed significantly with the prevalence and popularization of 4G technology and suggest that search volume improves forecasting performance,especially search volume on mobile terminals,from 2014M1–2019M12.

A preliminary study on exploratory search behavior of undergraduate students in China

Purpose: This study attempts to investigate how a user's search behavior changes in the exploratory search process in order to understand the characteristics of the user's search behavior and build a behavioral model.Design/methodology/approach: Forty-two matriculated full-time senior college students with a female-to-male ratio of 1 to 1 who majored in medical science in Jilin University participated in our experiment. The task of the experiment was to search for information about 'the influence of environmental pollution on daily life' in order to write a report about this topic. The research methods include concept map, query log analysis and questionnaire survey.Findings: The results indicate that exploratory search can significantly change the knowledge structure of searchers. As searchers were moving through different stages of the exploratory search process, they experienced cognitive changes, and their search behaviors were characterized by quick browsing, careful browsing and focused searching.Research limitations: The study used only one search topic, and there is no comparision or control group. Although we took search habits, personal thinking habits, personality characteristics and professional background into account, a more detailed study to analyze the effects of these factors on exploratory search behavior is needed in our further research.Practical implications: This study can serve as a reference for other researchers engaged in the same effort to construct the supporting system of exploratory search.Originality/value: Three methods are used to investigate the behavior characteristics during exploratory search.

Investigating the relationships between facets of work task and selection and query-related behavior

Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationships between different facets of work task and selection and query-related behavior.Design/methodology/approach:An experiment was conducted to explore the issue. The researcher recruited 24 participants and assigned six simulated work task situations to each of them. Each experiment lasted around 2 hours and was recorded by the software tool Morae.Findings: Time(frequency) and time(length) are more closely related to user’s selection and query-related behavior compared to the facet ‘process’ of work task. Knowledge level of work task topic, degree of work task difficulty, and subjective work task complexity are significantly correlated with selection and query-related behavior. Work task difficulty and work task complexity are different concepts. Subjective work task complexity, work task difficulty, and knowledge of work task topic are significantly correlated with user’s selection and query-related behavior.Research limitations/implications: The limitations of this study include a small sample size,limited work task situations, and possible spurious relationships. This study has implications in informing task-based information seeking/search/retrieval research and interactive information retrieval(IIR) systems design.Originality/values: Previous studies usually did not touch upon how different facets of work tasks affected interactive activities. Some studies examining task complexity and information behavior were concerned with how work tasks affect users’ behavior at information-seeking level, rather than at information search level. This study makes contribution to interactive information retrieval,task-based information search and retrieval, and personalization of IR.

An empirical study on user satisfaction in relation to those influencing factors for the development of database resources

In taking into full consideration of the technology acceptance model(TAM),this empirical study has made a few assumptions and also has formulated a model for the study on the level of satisfaction of database users. This research project was conducted by collecting relevant data from library users of five universities. Specifically, it aimed to measure database users' level of satisfaction and tried to find factors affecting these graduate students who are using databases regularly at their university libraries. An analysis of the collected data shows that the level of database users' satisfaction could be directly affected by the database service quality, the easiness of accessing the system and user perceived notion of usefulness of those databases that they use often. This study also found that database users' gender could be a significant factor in their perceived notion of easiness of accessing databases, and also in their perceived notion of satisfaction for their successful information retrieval operations. The frequency of accessing databases by these graduate students has an impact on users' perceived notion of easiness of database access. The users' school classifications could make a significant difference in their perceived notion on the extent of usefulness of a particular database.

Search recommendation model based on user search behavior and gradual forgetting collaborative filtering strategy

The existing search engines are lack of the consideration of personalization and display the same search results for different users despite their differences in interesting and purpose. By analyzing user＇s dynamic search behavior, the paper introduces a new method of using a keyword query graph to express user＇s dynamic search behavior, and uses Bayesian network to construct the prior probability of keyword selection and the migration probability between keywords for each user. To reflect the dynamic changes of the user＇s preference, the paper introduces non-lineal gradual forgetting collaborative filtering strategy into the personalized search recommendation model. By calculating the similarity between each two users, the model can do the recommendation based on neighbors and be used to construct the personalized search engine.

Exploring the Linear and Nonlinear Causality Between Internet Big Data and Stock Markets

In the era of big data,stock markets are closely connected with Internet big data from diverse sources.This paper makes the first attempt to compare the linkage between stock markets and various Internet big data collected from search engines,public media and social media.To achieve this purpose,a big data-based causality testing framework is proposed with three steps,i.e.,data crawling,data mining and causality testing.Taking the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange as targets for stock markets,web search data,news,and microblogs as samples of Internet big data,some interesting findings can be obtained.1)There is a strong bi-directional,linear and nonlinear Granger causality between stock markets and investors'web search behaviors due to some similar trends and uncertain factors.2)News sentiments from public media have Granger causality with stock markets in a bi-directional linear way,while microblog sentiments from social media have Granger causality with stock markets in a unidirectional linear way,running from stock markets to microblog sentiments.3)News sentiments can explain the changes in stock markets better than microblog sentiments due to their authority.The results of this paper might provide some valuable information for both stock market investors and modelers.