An exploratory study of information re-finding behaviour modes of Chinese college students on social media: video diary analysis from Chinese platforms

This study aims to explore college students’ information-re-finding behaviour in the context of social media by identifying different behaviour modes to enrich the research on the information behaviour of social media users. Thirty-two college students volunteered to record their re-finding process once it occurred within two weeks by the video diary method. One hundred and forty-six valid events were collected and analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. It was shown that the behaviour process of information re-finding on social media experienced six stages: scene triggering, information demand generating, social media selecting, re-finding, information confirmation and information processing. Forty-eight kinds of information re-finding modes were illustrated and summarised into seven categories according to where and how the information was finally found: following, chat record, keyword, favourites, history, personal dynamics and the like. From further analysis, it was proved that significant differences did exist between varied re-finding behaviour modes in information needs and re-finding time rather than information processing behaviour. The study could expand the traditional information search model into mixed timing by considering recalling and re-finding. Practically, it generates useful practical implications for the design of re-finding functions, information recommendation and memory services of social media.