Examining User Engagement Attributes in Visual Information Search

Abstract

This study performs an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the user engagement scale (UES) in the setting of daily life visual information search (i.e. searching images and/or videos using Web-based information systems). Principal Components Factor Analysis was employed to examine the six sub-scales of user engagement while searching images and/or videos on Web-based systems. Results indicated that the most stable sub-scale is Aesthetics (AE) followed by the Focused Attention (FA), while Perceived Usability (PUs) retained two of eight items and Novelty (NO) retained one of three items. Items from Felt Involvement (FI) and Endurability (EN) merged with the remaining items from PUs or NO to form two Factors. A number of 91 college student users responded to an online administered questionnaire in two weeks duration. The findings showed that more than 57% of the users use Google as their first choice to search visual information and YouTube, social media, and special sites were also used for their daily life visual information search.