Collaborative query reformulation in tourism information search Jia Tina Du School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences, Mawson Lakes Campus, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia Abu Shamim Mohammad Arif Department of Computer Science and Engineering Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh, and Preben Hansen Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Abstract Purpose – Collaborative information search (CIS) is a growing and significant research area. Query formulation and reformulation is an important search strategy in information search. However, limited research has investigated query behavior during CIS. The purpose of this paper is to characterize collaborative query reformulation (CQR) by exploring the sources of collaborative query (CQ) terms and the types and patterns of CQR in the context of tourism information search. Design/methodology/approach – An empirical study was designed to investigate search query reformulation as tourists performed CIS on a devised interface. A total of 36 participants (in 18 pairs) took part in the study; data were documented in pre- and post-search questionnaires, search logs and chat logs. Findings – The findings show that participants intermixed individual search and collaborative search during CIS. Participants constructed CQ terms mainly by selecting terms from individual search queries and discussion chat logs. Eight types of CQR were identified, with specialization (82 percent) accounting for the most used search tactics. At most times, participants were found to add terms to the previous query. Findings demonstrated 27 specific CQR patterns; in excess of two-third participants (69 percent) took only one move to reformulate CQ by adding terms, or replacing/using new words. Practical implications – The results of this research can be used to inform the design of search systems supporting collaborative querying in CIS. Originality/value – This study is highlighting an important research direction of CQ reformulation in collaborative search while previous studies of the topic are limited, comparing to the vast body of work on query reformulation in individual information search using regular search systems. Keywords Information search, Collaborative information search, Collaborative query Paper type Research paper Introduction When a user interacts with an information retrieval system, they usually formulate initial queries and reformulate these queries during the course of a search (Wildemuth et al., 2018). A query consists of one or more search terms, and possibly includes logical operators and modifiers ( Jansen et al., 2000, p. 211). Query formulation involves searchers constructing a query in the search system to articulate an information need or search intention. Query reformulation is a key search strategy that users adopt to modify a previous search query in terms of content or format in order to obtain better search results ( Jansen et al., 2009; Jiang et al., 2011; Rieh and Xie, 2006). Users have been found to interact with a search system by frequently reformulating their queries to satisfy their information needs (Aloteibi and Sanderson, 2014; Jansen et al., 2000; Jansen et al., 2009). Collaborative information search (CIS) has attracted growing attention in recent years (Capra et al., 2013; Leeder and Shah, 2016; Wu et al., 2018). Collaborative search refers to an information searching and retrieving process involving human beings interacting with Online Information Review Vol. 43 No. 7, 2019 pp. 1115-1135 © Emerald Publishing Limited 1468-4527 DOI 10.1108/OIR-12-2018-0371 Received 3 December 2018 Revised 7 March 2019 19 June 2019 3 September 2019 Accepted 12 September 2019 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: www.emeraldinsight.com/1468-4527.htm 1115 CQR in tourism information search