696 research outputs found

    The Mobile Version of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library Catalog and Its Users

    Get PDF
    This study investigates how users interact with the mobile version of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) library catalog and what users expect from it. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty participants, and each participant was asked questions on their previous experience with the mobile version of UNC library catalog, their purposes of using it, their library search tasks conducted on it, and their future expectations from it. Results indicate that participants think the mobile library catalog is convenient under certain circumstances and they prefer to conduct simple and quick library search tasks on it. However, the study produces some results contradicting a few previous studies on mobile information needs and mobile information behaviors.Master of Science in Information Scienc

    Preference vs. Authority: A Comparison of Student Searching in a Subject-Specific Indexing and Abstracting Database and a Customized Discovery Layer

    Get PDF
    Discovery layers provide a simplified interface for searching library resources. Libraries with limited finances make decisions about retaining indexing and abstracting databases when similar information is available in discovery layers. These decisions should be informed by student success at finding quality information as well as satisfaction with search interfaces. Students executed searches in two discovery layer configurations and an indexing and abstracting database. While students reported a preference for discovery layers, the articles selected from the indexing and abstracting database were more authoritative. These results illuminate the relative strengths of these tools, informing decisions about resource allocation and discovery configuration

    Creating sparks: comparing search results using discriminatory search term word co-occurrence to facilitate serendipity in the enterprise.

    Get PDF
    Categories or tags that appear in faceted search interfaces which are representative of an information item, rarely convey unexpected or non-obvious associated concepts buried within search results. No prior research has been identified which assesses the usefulness of discriminative search term word co-occurrence to generate facets to act as catalysts to facilitate insightful and serendipitous encounters during exploratory search. In this study, 53 scientists from two organisations interacted with semi-interactive stimuli, 74% expressing a large/moderate desire to use such techniques within their workplace. Preferences were shown for certain algorithms and colour coding. Insightful and serendipitous encounters were identified. These techniques appear to offer a significant improvement over existing approaches used within the study organisations, providing further evidence that insightful and serendipitous encounters can be facilitated in the search user interface. This research has implications for organisational learning, knowledge discovery and exploratory search interface design

    The role of accessibility and usability in bridging the digital divide for students with disabilities in an e-learning environment

    Get PDF
    The 2018 conference theme is "Technology for change". This conference theme should stimulate ideas on the way forward in Computer Science and Information Systems given the current debate on decolonisation and Africanisation in the tertiary sector. It may guide the contributions that our academic disciplines can and should make to enrich the knowledge and practice of Information and Communication Technology from an African perspective.School of Computin

    Retrieving haystacks: a data driven information needs model for faceted search.

    Get PDF
    The research aim was to develop an understanding of information need characteristics for word co-occurrence-based search result filters (facets). No prior research has been identified into what enterprise searchers may find useful for exploratory search and why. Various word co-occurrence techniques were applied to results from sample queries performed on industry membership content. The results were used in an international survey of 54 practising petroleum engineers from 32 organizations. Subject familiarity, job role, personality and query specificity are possible causes for survey response variation. An information needs model is presented: Broad, Rich, Intriguing, Descriptive, General, Expert and Situational (BRIDGES). This may help professionals to more effectively meet their information needs and stimulate new needs, improving a systems ability to facilitate serendipity. This research has implications for faceted search in enterprise search and digital library deployments

    Next generation catalogues: an analysis of user search strategies and behavior

    Get PDF
    The movement from online catalogues to search and discovery systems has not addressed the goals of true resource discoverability. While catalogue user studies have focused on user search and discovery processes and experiences, and construction and manipulation of search queries, little insight is given to how searchers interact with search features of next generation catalogues. Better understanding of user experiences can help guide informed decisions when selecting and implementing new systems. In this study, fourteen graduate students completed a set of information seeking tasks using UIUC's VuFind installation. Observations of these interactions elicited insight into both search feature use and user understanding of the function of features. Participants used the basic search option for most searches. This is because users understand that basic search draws from a deep index that always gives results regardless of search terms; and because it is convenient, appearing at every level of the search, thus reducing effort and shortening search time. Participants rarely used advanced search but selected it as a secondary alternative, especially when searching for local library or print collections. Participants understand an online catalogue as a list of library holdings that provides access to local print collections; and offers options for refining voluminous result sets. Participants frequently used author, title, subject, keywords; and citation, search within, print, save, e-mailing, fulltext download that offered clear alternatives to searching and search reformulation respectively. Such features are familiar to users from past search experiences and puts them in control of the system. Participants understand the function of VuFind features based on their perception and preference that: VuFind will give relevant and current information because of the large collection size at UIUC; because of their prior experiences with quick, minimal effort search reformulation strategies; and VuFind‘s large result sets, presented in systematic and logical order. The evidence confirms that information tasks guide and shape the way searchers select and use system features. Participant search processes change during and after using a specific system. Alternatives to improve the design of more robust search features are proposed
    • …
    corecore