Abstract

This study explored the effects of technological support on citizen searches during missing persons cases. A qualitative experimental design was used to investigate the effects of the prototype of an app, Sarea, developed by the Dutch police to help citizens initiate and coordinate a search. Two conditions were used: intervention groups, who were given phones with the app installed, and control groups without this support. A total of seven searches were conducted—four intervention groups and three control groups with group sizes between three and five people (N = 33). Data were collected through the System Usability Scale and one-to-one observation of individual searchers. The results showed that technology provides valuable support to citizens in coordinating and visualizing a citizen search. However, divided attention due to increased cognitive load during the search, and the unwarranted legitimization of human choices by a technological interface, can make collaboration between humans and technology problematic.

摘要

本研究探讨了失踪人员案件中技术支持对公民搜寻的影响。采用定性实验设计来调查应用程序 Sarea 原型的效果，该应用程序由荷兰警方开发，旨在帮助公民发起和协调搜索。使用了两种条件：干预组获得安装了该应用程序的手机，对照组则没有这种支持。总共进行了七次搜索——四个干预组和三个对照组，小组规模在三到五人之间（N = 33）。通过系统可用性量表和对个体搜索者的一对一观察来收集数据。结果表明，技术为公民协调和可视化公民搜索提供了宝贵的支持。然而，