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Golden, Gary A.; And Others – College and Research Libraries, 1982
This study, conducted at a separate serial card catalog in a major research library, measures the success of more than 400 patrons in the retrieval of serials. Patron interviews supplement data analysis to determine approaches, success rate, and underlying reasons for success or failure. An appendix includes the survey questionnaire. (Author/RAA)
Descriptors: Information Retrieval, Information Seeking, Questionnaires, Research Libraries
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Harter, Stephen P. – College and Research Libraries, 1984
Findings of study of online searchers' self-supported behaviors and attitudes indicate that: there are wide individual differences among online searchers in attitudes and behaviors; searchers from academic institutions differ from counterparts in other library settings; experience appears to be positively related to flexible, trial-and-error…
Descriptors: Attitudes, Behavior, Experience, Hypothesis Testing
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Ciliberti, Anne C.; And Others – College and Research Libraries, 1987
Describes a study that used the shelf availability research methodology to identify and quantify the causes of users' failures to identify and locate library materials. The factors resulting in unsuccessful searches are discussed, and recommendations for reducing these factors are made. (26 references) (CLB)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Access to Information, Higher Education, Library Research
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Alzofon, Sammy R.; Van Pulis, Noelle – College and Research Libraries, 1984
A survey of 430 users of online catalog at Ohio State University Libraries found that most users are undergraduate students (68 percent) and that majority (95 percent) choose online catalog as first source of information. Fewer performed known-item searches and success rates were generally higher than reported in earlier studies. (8 references)…
Descriptors: College Libraries, Higher Education, Information Retrieval, Library Catalogs
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Wiberley, Stephen E., Jr.; Daugherty, Robert Allen – College and Research Libraries, 1988
This review of the literature on the effect of information overload on users' information-seeking behavior focuses on librarians' opinions about the number of references that constitute too many, and users' preferences for maximum numbers of references from online searches, online public access catalog postings, and manual indexes. (35 references)…
Descriptors: Comparative Analysis, Indexes, Information Seeking, Information Systems
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Moore, Carole Weiss – College and Research Libraries, 1981
Analyses of the success-failure rates and user reactions using four public access online systems indicate that users overwhelmingly preferred the online to manual systems. Improved subject access emerged as the salient feature requiring improvement. Seven references are included. (Author/RAA)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Databases, Higher Education, Information Retrieval
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Norden, David J.; Lawrence, Gail Herndon – College and Research Libraries, 1981
Suggests improvement to online catalogs based on a 2 1/2 year study of patron search patterns. Preliminary findings indicate significant differences in search strategies and suggest that these strategies and the reasons patrons choose them should be important factors in the design of future online catalogs. Fourteen references are included.…
Descriptors: Cataloging, College Libraries, Computer Oriented Programs, Information Retrieval
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
King, Natalie Schoch – College and Research Libraries, 1991
Reports on a study that examined transaction logs of end users of PaperChase searching UM-MEDLINE at the University of Michigan to describe the use of various search features and to determine the effects of search experience on the use of search features. Boolean operators are discussed, and further studies are suggested. (23 references) (LRW)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Analysis of Variance, Comparative Analysis, Higher Education
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Ensor, Pat – College and Research Libraries, 1992
Describes results of a survey conducted at Indiana State University libraries that studied patron perceptions and demographics related to keyword searching on LUIS, the online public access catalog (OPAC) available through NOTIS (Northwestern Online Total Integrated System.) Demographics studied include age, status, frequency of LUIS use, and…
Descriptors: Age Differences, College Libraries, Higher Education, Library Catalogs
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Hanson, Elizabeth; Serebnick, Judith – College and Research Libraries, 1986
Presents a methodology for describing, analyzing, and evaluating the public service functions of serial file systems, and describes a user study conducted in a university departmental library to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of its system in enabling students new to the library to locate known-items in the serials collection. (CDD)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Access to Information, Evaluation Methods, Higher Education
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Pease, Sue; Gouke, Mary Noel – College and Research Libraries, 1982
Results of study on patron information retrieval success and patron use patterns at Ohio State University show that 90 percent of online users preferred online to card catalog; 64 percent of those who tried online catalog switched to it; and patrons used the online more than the card catalog. References are provided. (EJS)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Card Catalogs, Comparative Analysis, Higher Education