Process patterns and conceptual changes in knowledge representations during information seeking and sensemaking: A qualitative user study

The construction of knowledge representations during sensemaking resembles meaningful learning in which conceptual changes to knowledge structure take place in various forms. Guided by a cognitive process model of sensemaking expanding prior models with ideas from learning and cognitive psychology, we conducted a qualitative user study of 15 participants with news writing and business analysis tasks to investigate the evolvement of their knowledge structures. We collected and analysed think-aloud protocols along with recorded screen activities, intermediate work products including notes and concept maps, and the final reports. Findings suggested that: (a) the sensemaking process can be viewed as composed of several iterations that fall into nine slightly varied common patterns, which make up the components of sensemaking; (b) conceptual changes fall into three broad classes - accretion, tuning and restructuring; and (c) changes in forms of representation seem to assist in sensemaking. These findings provide insights for system design that assists in sensemaking and intelligent use of information.