Task management support in information seeking: a case for search histories Anita Komlodi Information Systems Department, College of Engineering and Information Technology, UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA Abstract This paper reports the results of an extensive user study that examined information seekers’ use of their memory and externally recorded search histories in searching for and using information in the legal domain. The ultimate goal of the research is to design search-history- based user interface tools to support information seeking. The results reported here focus on the management of complex information-seeking tasks. Computers can automatically record human–computer interaction events, allow the user to manipulate this information, and pro- vide it back to the searcher through the user interface. In order to understand how this information can best support information seekers, the role of users’ internal and external memory processes was examined using qualitative research methods (observations, interviews, and participatory user interface design sessions). The data collected were analyzed to identify potential task areas where search histories can support information seeking and use. The results show that many information-seeking tasks can take advantage of automatically and manually recorded history information. One of these areas is described in this paper: the management of complex tasks. Results of the study from the legal user group presented evidence of the utility of search histories and history-based interface tools. # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Search user interfaces; Search histories; Attorneys; Legal information; User study; Information retrieval 1. Introduction People search for information to solve many problems. With the proliferation of the World Wide Web and easy access to large amounts of information, online search tools have become very widely used. Original concerns about the decreased need for librarians and other information professionals have been quieted by the realization Computers in Human Behavior 20 (2004) 163–184 www.elsevier.com/locate/comphumbeh 0747-5632/$ - see front matter # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2003.10.013 E-mail address: komlodi@umbc.edu (A. Komlodi).