Cognitive Modeling of Age and Domain Knowledge Differences in Information Search

Several cognitive processes are involved in the process of information search on the Internet: memory, attention, comprehension, problem solving, executive control and decision making. Several cognitive factors such as aging-related cognitive abilities and domain knowledge in turn influence either positively or negatively these cognitive processes. Traditional click models from information retrieval community that predict user clicks do not fully consider the effect of the above cognitive factors. We demonstrate how the capabilities of computational cognitive models to simulate the effects of various cognitive factors can be used to improve our understanding of information search behavior. In this direction, we present some outcomes of modeling and predicting individual differences in information search due to age and domain knowledge using a computational cognitive model called CoLiDeS+. We also present some thoughts on how to model the influence of cognitive factors such as spatial ability and need for cognition in CoLiDeS+.