Professor Ian Ruthven

Head Of Department

Computer and Information Sciences

Personal statement

I am a Professor of Information Seeking and Retrieval in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences.

I work in the area of information seeking and retrieval; understanding how (and why) people search for information and how electronic systems might help them search more successfully. This brings in a wide range of research including theoretical research on the design and modelling of information access systems, empirical research on interfaces and user interaction and research on the methodology of evaluating information access systems.

Recent research has included interface design research to help children search for information, information seeking studies on information poverty within marginalised groups and studies on how people use online information to create a sense of happiness.

Expertise

Has expertise in:

    • information seeking theory
    • interface design for information access
    • user studies

Publications

Sharing "happy" information
Tinto Fiona, Ruthven Ian
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, (2015)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asi.23581
Involving the museum visitor community in designing exhibits
Clarke Loraine, Nicol Emma, Ruthven Ian
Cultural Heritage Communities: Technologies and Challenges, (2015)
The everyday life information seeking behaviours of first-time mothers
Loudon Katherine, Buchanan Steven, Ruthven Ian
Journal of Documentation Vol 72, (2015)
Sharing happy information : responses and self-portrayal
Tinto Fiona, Ruthven Ian
Information Research Vol 20, (2015)
Sharing happy information : responses and self-portrayal
Tinto Fiona, Ruthven Ian
ISIC, (2014)
Cultural Heritage Information Access and Management
Ruthven Ian, Chowdhury Gobinda
iSeries, (2014)

more publications

Teaching

  • information retrieval
  • information seeking
  • qualitative and quantitative research methods

Professional activities

Information Processing and Management
To be assigned
2/2015
Information Research
Editorial board member
1/2015
ACM CIKM
Chair
2011
Journal of Information Science
Editorial board member
2011
Vice-Chair ACM Sigir 2010-2013
Chair
2010
Journal of Documentation
Editorial board member
2010

more professional activities

Projects

Understanding the Information Needs of Young First Time Mothers from Areas of Multiple Deprivation
Buchanan, Steven (Principal Investigator) Ruthven, Ian (Co-investigator)
Period 01-Jun-2015 - 30-Nov-2017
Scottish Network on Digital Cultural Resources Evaluation
Ruthven, Ian (Principal Investigator) Damala, Areti (Principal Investigator)
The network brings together academics from different disciplines and professionals from Scotland's key cultural organisations in order to investigate how cultural digital resources are used by diverse user groups, how to record their impact on learning, research and community engagement and how to maximize their potential.
Period 15-Jan-2015 - 30-Dec-2016
Re-design of interactive exhibits using low cost technology for proof of concept prototypes
Ruthven, Ian (Principal Investigator)
Period 01-May-2014 - 30-Sep-2015
Material Encounters with Digital Cultural Heritage
Damala, Areti (Research Co-investigator) Ruthven, Ian (Principal Investigator)
meSch is a 4-year EU funded project with the goal of co-designing novel platforms for the creation of tangible exhibits at heritage sites: curators will be able to offer visitors new interactive experiences by means of material interaction with smart objects.
Period 01-Feb-2013 - 31-Jan-2017
MESCH
Ruthven, Ian (Principal Investigator)
Period 01-Feb-2013 - 31-Jan-2017

more projects
http://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/ruthvenianprof/
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