Review of User Studies Carol Tenopir University of Tennessee

2 Parameters of Report Use of digital library sources Use of digital library sources Research studies only Research studies only Multiple methods considered Multiple methods considered Recent studies only (1995-) Recent studies only (1995-)

3 Excluded From Analysis Opinion pieces Opinion pieces Pre-web studies Pre-web studies Studies of only the web (no libraries) Studies of only the web (no libraries)

4 Studies Included Tier 1 (major studies with many subjects) Tier 1 (major studies with many subjects) Tier 2 (small scale studies) Tier 2 (small scale studies) Related Materials (bibliographies of user studies, methods) Related Materials (bibliographies of user studies, methods)

5 Tier 1 Parameters Research projects treated as one Research projects treated as one Separate publications for same project in bibliography Separate publications for same project in bibliography

6 Tier 1 Studies (groups of studies) 1. SuperJournal 2. Outsell 3. HighWire/eJUSt 4. Pew Studies 5. OhioLINK 6. Tenopir & King 7. Others (CIBER) may be elevated to Tier 1

7 Tier 1 studies -- Method STUDY METHOD SuperJournal Outsell HighWire/eJUSt Pew OhioLINK Tenopir & King Interviews Logs Surveys/critical incident Logs/surveys/focus groups/interviews Surveys/observation/focus groups/journals Surveys/interviews/logs

8 Tier 1 studies -- Participants STUDY PARTICIPANTS SuperJournal Outsell HighWire/eJUSt Pew OhioLINK Tenopir & King Students & faculty Scholars & clinicians High school & College students OhioLINK users Scientists and social scientists

9 Tier 1 studies -- Conclusions STUDY CONCLUSIONS SuperJournal Outsell HighWire/eJUSt Pew OhioLINK Tenopir & King User level Group level User & Readings level

10 SuperJournal Findings Users want subject clusters Users want subject clusters 7 patterns of use 7 patterns of use Both browsing & searching are important Both browsing & searching are important Differences by discipline, tasks, & position Differences by discipline, tasks, & position E-journals save time, but relevant articles are printed out E-journals save time, but relevant articles are printed out

11 Outsell Findings Faculty and students use e-journals Faculty and students use e-journals Most like e-journals Most like e-journals Faculty and students still use print Faculty and students still use print Universities use e-journals more than colleges Universities use e-journals more than colleges Differences by discipline, level Differences by discipline, level

12 HighWire/eJUSt Findings Use multi journal services for searching Use multi journal services for searching Create personal “mini-libraries” Create personal “mini-libraries” Differences by disciplines, workplace Differences by disciplines, workplace Like PDF to print out relevant articles Like PDF to print out relevant articles Like hyperlinks Like hyperlinks

13 Pew Studies Findings Students are heavy Internet users Students are heavy Internet users Use the net for school research Use the net for school research Use interactive features and virtual communities Use interactive features and virtual communities Use Internet more than the library Use Internet more than the library See disconnect between home and school use; teachers and students See disconnect between home and school use; teachers and students

14 OhioLINK Findings Wide use of unsubscribed titles Wide use of unsubscribed titles Wide range of titles used Wide range of titles used Heavy use of e-journals by all colleges Heavy use of e-journals by all colleges Many small colleges Many small colleges Use increases over time Use increases over time

15 Tenopir & King Findings Users read more, not more time Users read more, not more time Differences among disciplines, workplace Differences among disciplines, workplace More searching, less browsing More searching, less browsing Fewer personal subscriptions, more reliance on library Fewer personal subscriptions, more reliance on library Relevant articles are printed out Relevant articles are printed out

16 What Conclusions Can You Draw? Usage logs Usage logs Interviews/surveys/ journals Interviews/surveys/ journals What groups do What groups do Opinion, what individuals say they do in general and why Opinion, what individuals say they do in general and why What individuals say they do specifically and why, readings What individuals say they do specifically and why, readings What individuals do in a controlled setting and why What individuals do in a controlled setting and why Critical incident Critical incident Experimental Experimental

17 Learning About Users and Usage Opinions, preferences (individual) Usage logs Critical incident (readings), Experimental