Query modification patterns and concept analysis of Web image queries

This study investigated query modification patterns and concepts used in query construction during users' searching images on the Web. It examined whether query modifications were related to different content collections, and analyzed what attributes were used to formulate a query in an interactive web searching process. Findings of the study show that query modification patterns were significantly associated with content collections. Terms related to format or specific objects to represent an image were found to be frequently used in reformulations and specializations. The findings suggest that system features for flexible query formulation and navigation would support users' image search process. Copyright retained by the author.