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, Slovakiasteinerovasteinerova@fphil.uniba.sk@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