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Exploratory search in digital libraries: A preliminary examination of the use and role of interface features

What interface features of academic digital libraries (DLs) do scholars use when engaging in an exploratory search task? We compare social scientists’ and computer scientists’ use of interface features in domain‐specific DLs to demonstrate what features may lead to useful and unexpected findings of information. Applying a search user interface framework, we found social scientists were more likely than computer scientists to use control features (e.g., filter options) during exploration. Both sets of scholars found useful information during exploration, but social scientists more frequently reported they also found something unexpected. Findings suggest differences may be due to variances in the interface features used by the two groups. We discuss future research including further examination of the experiences that the use of interface features may elicit.