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Understanding user behavior through transaction logs

Understanding user behavior through transaction logs. Elizabeth German Kelsey Brett. UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES. Background. University of Houston libraries redesigned website in 2010 Implemented new tabbed search interface Transaction log was added to the search interface in 2011.

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Understanding user behavior through transaction logs

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  1. Understanding user behavior through transaction logs Elizabeth German Kelsey Brett UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  2. Background • University of Houston libraries redesigned website in 2010 • Implemented new tabbed search interface • Transaction log was added to the search interface in 2011 UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  3. Search Tabs Serials Solutions’ Summon SerialsSolutions’ A to Z List Homegrown Database List Innovative’s OPAC SpringShare’s CampusGuides Google Site Search UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  4. What is a transaction log? • A record of user interactions with a system • We recorded • Search Terms • Tab used • SessionID • Date and Time • On or Off campus • Unique ID for the search UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  5. Transaction log UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  6. How does it work? • User searches for Stone circles in the OneSearchtab • A URL is generated http://info.edu/search?q=stone+circles&tab=onesearch • Code writes “q” and “tab” information into a database • Code generates and sends user to vendor URL http://summon.com/search?s.q.=stone+circles UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  7. The Transaction Log Team • Beth German – Web Services Coordinator • Kelsey Brett – Resource Discovery Systems Fellow • Frederick Young – System Analyst 3 UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  8. Methodology: Defining Tabs UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  9. Methodology: Coding UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  10. Methodology: Coding Key UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  11. Analysis: Tab Usage UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  12. Analysis: Coding Results UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  13. Analysis: Tab Inappropriateness UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  14. Findings: Coding to User Tasks UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  15. Findings: Tasks v. Tab Appropriateness UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  16. Findings • When users know what they are looking for they typically choose an appropriate tab • Example: Users are searching for journal titles and database names more in the appropriate tab than in OneSearch • Users are using the catalog tab appropriately • Research Guides and Site Search are not widely used • Unknown item searching is common UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  17. Implementing Change • Team is (currently) writing a report with findings and recommendations • Example recommendation: • Simple: Change e-journals to “E-journal Title” • Complex: Combine OneSearch and Databases tabs • Sharing information with stakeholders • Future user studies UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

  18. Thank You! Elizabeth German – emgerman@uh.edu Kelsey Brett – krbrett@uh.edu UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON | LIBRARIES

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