Marie L. Radford, PhD, Rutgers University & Lynn Silipigni Connaway, PhD, OCLC Presented at the Fifth Annual iConference University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign February 3-6, 2010 “I stay away from the unknown, I guess, ” Measuring Impact and Understanding Critical Factors for Millennial Generation and Adult Non- users of Virtual Reference Services
Phases Focus Group Interviews Online surveys Telephone Interviews Analysis of 850 QuestionPoint live chat transcripts Comparison Millennials v. older adults “Seeking Synchronicity: Evaluating Virtual Reference Services from User, Non-User, & Librarian Perspectives”
Millennial Demographics: Gender & Age (N=195)
Millennial Demographics: Ethnicity & Types of Library (N=195)
Millennial Demographics: Location (N=195)
Older Adult Demographics: Gender & Age (N=95)
Older Adult Demographics: Ethnicity & Types of Library (N=95)
Older Adult Demographics: Location (N=95)
Online Survey (N=184) Quantitative Results
Experience with Reference Modes Online Survey (N=184)
Phone Reference Use Online Survey (N=184)
Face-to-Face Preference (FtF) Online Survey (N=184)
FtF Preference: Adults & Millennials Online Survey
FtF vs. Other Formats: Millennials (N=122) Online Survey
Least Intimidating: Millennials (N=122) Online Survey
“The Library is convenient” Online Survey (N=184)
“Remote access is important” Online Survey (N=184)
Convenience: Millennials Online Survey
Personal Relationships Important Value Interactions with Specific Librarians Online Survey (N=184)
Personal Relationships with Librarians Online Survey By Flickr ® user Wanderingone
Librarian Friendliness & Politeness Valued Online Survey (N=184)
Librarian Friendliness & Politeness: Millennials Online Survey
Reasons for Not Choosing VRS Online Survey (N=184)
“Chat reference might be too complicated.” Adults Online Survey By Flickr® user markuz
Reasons for Not Choosing VRS Online Survey Questions might annoy librarian Don’t believe librarian can help Didn’t know VRS existed Satisfied with other sources By Flickr ® user RodBegbie
Reasons to Use VRS Online Survey Non-users might try VRS If they could receive information quickly 24/7/365 By Flickr ® user mag3737
Demographics Phone Interviews (N=107)
FtF Preferred (N=107) Phone Interviews
FtF Preferred Phone Interviews By Flickr® user acpl
Reasons for Not Choosing VRS Phone Interviews 82% (24) were unaware it existed
Reasons for Not Choosing VRS Phone Interviews 43%(45) used the Web 12%(13) Mentioned Google
Reasons for Not Choosing VRS Phone Interviews By Flickr ® user Rainer Ebert /
Reasons to Use VRS Phone Interviews
Reasons to Use VRS - Convenience Phone Interviews
Qualitative Data Analysis Critical Incidents (CIs) Data analyzed using Flanagan’s CIT (1954) Online surveys/phone interviews had 2 questions CIs sorted into themes via constant comparative method Themes expanded & merged into the CI Coding Scheme FtF encounters VR encounters
Qualitative Results – Positive CIs Online Survey (N=184) 84% (154) were positive results 70% (108) were described by Millennials
Qualitative Results – Positive CIs By Flickr® user onefemme
Qualitative Results – Negative CIs Online Survey (N=184) 54% (99) were negative results 75% (74) were Millennials
Qualitative Results – Negative CIs
Qualitative Results – Positive CIs Phone Interviews (N=107) Interviews yielded 122 positive CIs
Qualitative Results – Positive CIs Phone Interviews
Qualitative Results – Negative CIs Phone Interviews (N=107) Interviews yielded 112 negative CIs
Most important for success Accuracy Correct answers Convenience Delivery Discussion & Implications Non-Users Value Knowledgeable Positive attitude Good communication skills
Unaware of service Convenience Prefer FtF least intimidating Online sources more convenient Discussion & Implications
Unaware services exist Don’t think librarians can help Satisfied with other sources May use if available 24/7 Discussion & Implications
Millennials Value convenience & online access (sources & services) Value friendliness Concerned questions annoying Discussion & Implications Millennials vs. Adults Adults Chat too complicated Typing skills not adequate
Need: System Development Improved VR Practice Theory Development Marketing Conclusion Providers must understand non-users to meet their needs.
End Notes This is one of the outcomes from the project Seeking Synchronicity: Evaluating Virtual Reference Services from User, Non-User, and Librarian Perspectives Funded by IMLS, Rutgers, & OCLC Inc. Project web site: activities/synchronicity/default.htm