Exploring the Influence of Human Individual Differences on Online Searching Behavior

This paper will discuss research in progress that investigates whether individual characteristics significantly impact information processing and retrieval on the Internet. The goal of this research is to understand how individual users approach and interact with technology in order to access information. In an effort to enhance and support a greater body of users, this study will integrate knowledge about and evaluate behavior in the human search process via Internet technology. This paper will outline the research background and motivation, provide a literature review of the subject area and describe the research design for this investigation into individual differences and online searching behavior.