نوع مقاله : مقاله مروری
نویسندگان
1 گروه علم اطلاعات و دانش شناسی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
2 گروه آموزش، واحد یادگار امام خمینی (ره) شهرری، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Mental models and knowledge gaps are two key concepts in the field of information-seeking behavior. A deep understanding of these concepts can contribute to improving learning processes, decision-making, and information management across diverse contexts. The interaction between mental models and knowledge gaps is a dynamic and continuous process that is reinforced by environmental feedback and new experiences. Ultimately, this process leads to lifelong learning and the enhancement of an individual's cognitive capabilities. This study was conducted with the aim of systematically reviewing the role of mental models and knowledge gaps in information seeking behavior.
Methodology: This study was conducted using a systematic review approach. The stages of the literature review were carried out based on the PRISMA framework. The inclusion criteria comprised research papers, dissertations, and scientific reports published in Persian and English between 2000 and 2025, which examined mental models, knowledge gaps, and information-seeking behavior. The exclusion criteria included sources without full text, non-scientific studies, duplicate publications, and studies that addressed only one of the intended concepts without exploring the relationships among them. In this study, searches were conducted in databases including Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, SID, and Magiran using combinations of the keywords “mental model,” “knowledge gap,” and “information-seeking behavior.” Additionally, backward and forward citation tracking was employed to identify relevant sources. Initially, 93 articles were identified. After excluding 15 duplicate and 16 irrelevant articles, 62 articles were selected for analysis. In the second phase of the research, after collecting textual data from various sources, text analysis was performed using specialized text mining software. In order to identify hidden patterns and relationships among mental models, knowledge gaps, and information-seeking behavior, a clustering algorithm was used. In addition to clustering, network analysis was also used to examine the relationships among key concepts.
The findings indicated that most studies focused on the influence of mental models on search behavior, with 28 articles (45% of the total studies) dedicated to this topic. This finding indicates the fundamental importance of the mental model in shaping information-seeking behavior. A precise, complete, and structured mental model can enhance an individual's ability to identify reliable sources, formulate purposeful questions, evaluate retrieved information, and integrate it with prior knowledge. Ultimately, this leads to an improvement in the quality and effectiveness of the search behavior. In the second theme, the role of knowledge gaps in information-seeking behavior was highlighted in 22 articles, accounting for 35% of the studies. A knowledge gap can be a factor in the discovery of new information and the use of multiple sources. However, its influence is less than that of the mental model, as achieving effective search behavior requires an individual's ability to manage information deficiencies, recognize appropriate sources, and integrate them with existing knowledge. In the third theme, the interaction between mental models and knowledge gaps was examined in 12 articles, which accounted for 20% of the total research. The analysis of the interaction between mental models and knowledge gaps also indicated a positive, moderate-strength relationship, suggesting that mental models can mitigate knowledge gaps and, conversely, that the presence of knowledge gaps may reflect limitations or weaknesses in an individual’s mental model. The results of the qualitative relationship analysis also indicated a strong and positive relationship between mental models and search behavior, a positive but moderate relationship between knowledge gaps and search behavior, and an interaction between mental models and knowledge gaps.
Conclusion: The mental model is the most influential factor affecting information-seeking behavior. The knowledge gap acts as a driver for the search, and the interaction of these two variables can explain the behavioral complexities of users. These findings highlight the necessity of considering cognitive factors in the design of information systems and tools, as well as the importance of educating and strengthening users' mental models.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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