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Exploring User Behavior: Insights from Transaction Logs

Learn how the University of Houston Libraries use transaction logs to understand user interactions on their redesigned website, providing valuable insights for improving the search interface and user experience.

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Exploring User Behavior: Insights from 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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