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

Jul 16, 2026

The paper investigates how users experience and perceive serendipity during information seeking in digital collections using a human-centered design lens. It combines an exploratory scoping literature review with a mixed-methods online survey study (N=30), positioning researchers as primary stakeholders. Findings indicate higher perceived serendipity for participants balancing broad and specific goals, supported by correlations between serendipitous environments and user perceptions. Learning, collaboration, and value change metrics align strongly with serendipity, while AI-facilitated features receive mixed feedback. Design directions are discussed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

Introduction

Background

Theoretical Foundations of Serendipity

Serendipity as Event, Something, or Someone

Serendipity as Process or Experience

User Study Methodology

Results and Discussion

Design Implications

Exploring Serendipity in Information Seeking for Digital Collections: A Mixed-Methods Survey Study toward Human-Centered Design Saumik Shashwat∗ [saumiks@icloud.com](saumiks@icloud.com)[ ](saumiks@icloud.com)Human Centered Design and Engineering University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA Xiaoyi Xue∗ [xiaoyixue0119@gmail.com](xiaoyixue0119@gmail.com)[ ](xiaoyixue0119@gmail.com)Human Centered Design and Engineering University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA Benjamin Lee [bcgl@uw.edu](bcgl@uw.edu)[ ](bcgl@uw.edu)Information School University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA arXiv :2607 .06937v 1 [ cs .DL] 8 Jul 2026 Abstract In this paper, we explore user experience and perception of serendipity in information seeking for digital collections through a humancentered 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 mixedmethods 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. CCS Concepts • Information systems → Digital libraries and archives; Search interfaces; • Human-centered computing → Human computer interaction (HCI) . Keywords Serendipity, Information Seeking, Exploratory Search, Digital Collection, Mixed-methods, Survey 1 Introduction Various scholars and previous works have attempted to define and aggregate the definitions for serendipity and its relevance ∗ These authors contributed to this study equally. to library & information science and the digital humanities [21– 23, 26, 28, 30, 36, 38, 39, 42] . However, Kotkov et al. [34] noted a lack of systematic definitions and consensus for serendipity and related concepts, and these shortfalls make it difficult to build theory. Building upon this noted gap, McCay Peet and Toms [40] noted,“inconsistencies exacerbated by the fact that the various disciplinesand fields examining serendipity (e.g., information behavior, recommender systems) appear to be working in silos—odd considering the boundary-crossing often required to spark the very phenomenon under investigation.” We approach this major research gap, especially in the context of information seeking in digital collections, echoing various focal points through human-centered design. Our approach allows for a multidisciplinary epistemological framework to anchor the target users, in this case, the researchers at the core, as we explore the problem space. Our mixed-methods investigations allow us to inquire into their perceptions and experiences. In this work, we first lay down the theoretical foundations connecting serendipity, information seeking, search user interfaces, and digital collections. Following this, we describe

FAQs

What research question does the study focus on?

The study examines users’ experience and perception of serendipity during information seeking for digital collections, analyzed through a human-centered design lens.

How was the study conducted and who were the participants?

The research uses an exploratory scoping literature review and an online mixed-methods survey with N=30 participants, treating researchers interacting with digital collections as primary stakeholders.

What factors increased perceived serendipity in the digital collections setting?

Participants reported higher serendipity when they had both broad and specific goals, and correlations were found when systems offered more opportunities for unexpected interactions with information, ideas, or resources.

How did participants respond to AI-facilitated serendipity features?

Results indicate mixed sentiments toward AI-facilitated serendipity features, suggesting benefits and concerns coexist.

Jul 16, 2026

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