Exploring Serendipity in Information Seeking for Digital Collections: A Mixed-Methods Survey Study toward Human-Centered Design

2026-07-07

AI Summary

This study addresses how digital collections can effectively support users’ serendipitous discovery experiences. Adopting a human-centered design perspective, the research integrates a literature review, an online survey (N=30), and mixed-methods analysis to examine researchers’ information-seeking behaviors, system interactions, and perceptions of serendipity. Findings indicate that participants pursuing both broad and specific goals reported higher levels of serendipity, and that systems offering unexpected yet relevant interactive opportunities significantly enhanced such experiences. AI-assisted features elicited more nuanced and ambivalent responses. Building on these insights, the study identifies key system characteristics that foster serendipity and proposes design directions emphasizing learning and collaborative value.

Abstract

In this paper, we explore user experience and perception of serendipity in information seeking for digital collections through a human-centered design lens. Beginning with an exploratory scoping literature review, we collated the theoretical foundations of serendipity, serendipity in information seeking, search user interfaces, and digital collections. By positioning researchers interacting with digital collections as our primary stakeholders, we utilized a mixed-methods approach involving an online survey study (N = 30). We primarily inquired study participants about the digital collections they worked with, their information seeking behavior, system user experience, and perception of serendipity. Results show that participants with both broad and specific goals, depending on the situation, reported a higher perception of serendipity than participants with specific goals. We found correlations between certain aspects of serendipitous digital environment and perception of serendipity, along with the aspects of former that influence the latter: the system providing more opportunities for unexpected interactions with information, ideas, or resources while seeking information in digital collections corresponded to higher user perceptions of serendipity. We also found correlations between serendipity and autobiographically-identified key research metrics, including a strong positive alignment among learning, collaboration, and value change. Moreover, results indicated mixed sentiments toward AI-facilitated serendipity features. Lastly, possible system design directions to facilitate serendipity in information seeking are discussed.

Problem

• serendipity
• information seeking
• digital collections
• user experience
• human-centered design

Innovation

• serendipity
• human-centered design
• digital collections
• mixed-methods
• information seeking