網際網路提供了一個巨大且動態的超空間，所以多種的資源可被應用於支援學習者。在各種網路資源中，學習者經常使用搜尋引擎(Search Engines)尋找資訊，以獨立實現他們的學習目標。因此，尋求資訊成為他們的一種學習過程，但它正從個人性的資訊尋求 (Individual Information Seeking)，邁入合作性的資訊尋求 (Collaborative Information Seeking)，亦即是在資訊尋求過程中學習者須共同合作，相互支持。然而，每一個學習者都有他/她的特質，因此有必要考慮他們的個別差異性。特別是，過去的研究指出，認知風格(Cognitive Styles)會影響學習者的資訊尋求方式。這種證據引起了另一項議題，亦即是認知風格與合作性資訊尋求可能有密切的關係。為研究此項議題，本計畫將進行兩項實證研究。第一個實證研究將探討認知風格對個人資訊尋求的影響，而第二個實證研究將探討認知風格如何影響合作性資訊尋求。這兩個實證研究的結果將被用一種整合性的方法來分析，其中包括傳統的量化 (Quantitative Methods) 和質化 (Qualitative Methods) 的方法以及資訊挖掘(Data Mining)技術。此種整合性的分析中所得到的研究成果將包括使用者模型 (User Models)和指導方針 (Guidelines)，這些成果不僅有助於增加對合作性資訊尋求的深刻了解，也呈現對合作性資訊分享的一種新的體認。總之，本計畫將「合作性資訊尋求」與「合作性資訊分享」整合，這種創新提供教師和設計者在此重要的領域中一個完整的樣貌。 The World Wide Web (Web) provides an extremely large and dynamic hyperspace so a variety of resources can be applied to support learners. Among various Web resources, learners frequently use search engines to seek information to achieve their learning goals by themselves. Thus, information seeking becomes their learning processes but it is moving from individual information seeking to collaborative information seeking where learners work together to support each other. However, each learner has his/her characteristics so there is a need to consider their individual differences. In particular, previous research indicated that cognitive styles affect learners’ information seeking. Such evidence raises an issue as to whether cognitive style is also an influential factor in collaborative information seeking. To this end, the proposed project examines this essential issue by conducting two empirical studies. The first empirical study will examine the effects of cognitive styles on individual information seeking while the second empirical study will investigate how cognitive styles affect collaborative information seeking. The results from these two empirical studies will be analyzed with an integrated approach, which includes traditional quantitative and qualitative methods and data mining techniques. The outputs from such analyses include user models and guidelines, which will not only increase a deep understanding of collaborative information seeking, but also promote knowledge of collaborative information sharing. In summary, the novelty of the proposed project lies within the incorporation of collaborative information seeking with collaborative information sharing, which can help instructors and designers develop a complete picture for this important area. 研究期間：10008 ~ 10107
