In search for patterns of In search for patterns of user interaction for digital user interaction for digital librarieslibraries
Jela SteinerováJela SteinerováComenius University, Comenius University, Bratislava, SlovakiaBratislava, [email protected]@fphil.uniba.sk
Research project VEGA Research project VEGA 1/9236/02
» Interaction of man and information environment (sources, technologies)
» major study of academic and research libraries in Slovakia
Context 1Context 1
» changes in information provision» digital libraries:» integration of sources, user communities» accessibility of electronic communication» open information structures in digital
environment
Context 2Context 2
» information seeking and use» Information behaviour of users» individual differences» differences in information seeking styles
(groups, domains)» “pattern” - stable preferences, schemes
Goals of the research project 1/9236/02Goals of the research project 1/9236/02
» identify changes in information environment » analysis of relationships: man - inform.sources
- inform. technologies » survey of user behaviour - selected groups,
library types» methodological and theoretic issues
Concept of the user surveyConcept of the user survey
» testing several hypotheses regarding selected communities, domains, sources:
» 1. academic and research libraries in Slovakia (students, education, science)» 2. electronic resources, internet» 3. special community (visually impaired users)» 4. scientific and research workers (Slovak
Academy of Sciences)
Conceptual model for the Conceptual model for the survey,basic information survey,basic information about usersabout users
U S E R
region library
age
gendercategory
languages
subject
Conceptual model, part 1Conceptual model, part 1 1.MOTIVATION 2.SOURCES
3.INTELL. ACCESS 4.STIMULI
new ideas contradictory
information
well-arranged form wider categories immediate use
time cost planning
accessibility informal sources renowned source
STABLE PREFERENCES
Conceptual model, part 2Conceptual model, part 2
1.COOPERATION 2.ORIENTATION
3.QUALITY OF SOURCE 4. INF. PROCESSING
help of librarian individual work cooperation
more libraries 1st source-internet 1st source-catalogue 1st source-reference
COURSE OF SEEKING
professionalperiodicals
indexes
evolution ofunderstanding
increase of interest feelings
Conceptual model, part 3Conceptual model, part 3
1.STRATEGY 2.SUCCESS/EFFECTS
3.RELEVANCE
confirmation ofprior knowledge
feelings
document types criteria of
relevance judgement
EXPERIENCE AFTER SEEKING
more time organiz. of work steps back
Assumptions and goals of the surveyAssumptions and goals of the survey
» strategic aspects of information seeking» role of collaboration in information seeking» expectations (change of knowledge states)» first access points (catalogue, internet)» motivation for information seeking» professional journals» role of simple and easy access
Organization of the survey, methodsOrganization of the survey, methods
» 16 selected academic and research libraries» June - July 2002» questionnaire, methodological guidelines» data gathering, coding, analyses
Results of the surveyResults of the survey
» first analyses» 793 subjects» evaluation of parameters, concepts and
hypotheses» further analyses - by categories and concepts
(conceptual model)» surface and in-depth types of information
processing
Example 1: Characteristics of the dataExample 1: Characteristics of the data
Number of respondents in single libraries in Slovakia
Počet respondentov v jednotlivých knižniciach
020
4060
80100
120140
160
knižnica
Poče
t re
spo
nden
tov
UKBCVTSNKFEIFIFPRFLEFSVKSVBSVPCHTSEKUKKTUKSAVUKZ
Example 2: Characteristics of the dataExample 2: Characteristics of the data
Počet respondentov podľa pohlavia
0
žena
muž
Vekové kategórie
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
0- 25 26- 40 41- 50 51 a viac
Počet
Percento
Distribution by age
Distribution by sex
Example 3 : Characterstics of the dataExample 3 : Characterstics of the data
Kategórie používateľov
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
študentVŠ, SŠ
učiteľ VŠ,SŠ
ved.-výsk.prac.
manažér iné spolu
Typy používateľov
Po
čet
Distribution by user category
Example 4: Characteristics of the dataExample 4: Characteristics of the data
Vedný odbor - percentá
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Perc
en
tá
1-nič2-spoločenské vedy3-prír. vedy a medicína4-technické disciplíny5-ekonomické disciplíny6-umelecké odbory7-iné
Distribution by subjects
Emerging patternsEmerging patterns
» needs for support in strategies of access to information sources (more time, better organization of work)
» problem of cooperation, help of librarian» optimistic expectations, increase of interest» confirmation of prior knowledge
Emerging patternsEmerging patterns
» professional journals, relevance judgements - keywords, authors
» preferences of internet (access to catalogues)» rather low motivation (paid service, time
investment)» simple methods of access to sources
Example 5: Course of seeking: men, womenExample 5: Course of seeking: men, women
Differences between men and women, conceptual model, part B
Course of seeking
0,000,501,001,502,002,503,003,504,00
women
men
Example 6: Feelings after task completion Example 6: Feelings after task completion (men, women)(men, women)
Differences between men and women, conceptual model, part C
Feelings after task completion
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
satisfaction
relief
uncertainty
concerns
excitement
unsatisfaction
curiosity
Percent
women men
Example 7: Course of seeking, younger and Example 7: Course of seeking, younger and older usersolder users
Differences between younger and older age categories – conceptual model, part B
Course of seeking - age categories
0
0,5
1
1,5
2
2,5
3
3,5
4
1.source-internet
1.source- librarycatalog
prof. periodicals librarians help indexes,bibliographies
use of morelibraries
18- 25 26- 30 31- 40 41- 50 less than 18 more than 51
Example 8 : Course of seeking by selected Example 8 : Course of seeking by selected categories of users (managers, students)categories of users (managers, students)
Differences between selected user categories – course of seeking
Course of seeking - user categories
0
0,5
1
1,5
2
2,5
3
3,5
4
1.source-internet
1.source -libr.
catalogue
1.source -reference
works
prof. periodicals
help oflibrarian
independentwork
more libraries
manager students
Example 9: Course of seeking by Example 9: Course of seeking by subjectssubjects
Differences between scientific subjects – course of seeking
Course of seeking - subjects
0
0,5
1
1,5
2
2,5
3
3,5
4
1.source- internet 1.source- libr.catalogue
1.source-reference works
help of librarian cooperation withcoll.
more libraries
economic subjects sciences, medicine social sciences technical subjects
Conclusions Conclusions
» links of information seeking with problem solution (education)
» changes of problem understanding in the course of seeking
» support: initial stages of seeking, organization of work, understanding concepts, overview of sources, confirmation of understanding, relevance judgement
Conclusions Conclusions
» individual seeking versus collaboration (recognize)
» support of intellectual information processing, selection, analysis, interpretation, synthesis
» creative use of information in digital environment (skills, education)
Conclusions Conclusions
» design of digital reference services and systems
» cooperative systems of information use» new methods of knowledge organization» sensitivity to contexts of user information
styles» new contexts of knowledge integration
Further continuation of the research Further continuation of the research projectproject
» deeper analyses of user groups» identify types of information processing
(styles)» theory and modelling of information process» additional views on data (geographical,
language)» other groups of users