220 likes | 285 Views
This research explores the analysis of usage data, focusing on accessed content types, user behaviors, and limitations of data interpretation, offering insights for future research strategies.
E N D
What Can Be Learned From Usage Data Lynn Silipigni Connaway Research Scientist Mark Bendig Systems Analyst ASIST 2003 Annual Conference October 22, 2003
What Can Be Learned • What is being accessed • Subject areas • Types of content • Publishers of content • Depth of access • Perusing • In-depth reading • Number of items accessed • Number of screens/pages accessed • Patterns of access • When accessed • Length of use/activity • Movements within the site and the text • System and interface design
Limitations of Usage Data • Do not know • Who the users are • Usually cannot associate user demographics with usage patterns • Where they get access to the resources • How they use resources • Why they use resources • Massive amounts of data to manipulate
netLibrary Site Activity • Unique Users • Tues., 2/26/02 = 3796 • Wed., 2/26/03 = 8789 • Total Sessions • Tues., 2/26/02 = 3989 • Wed., 2/26/03 = 9458
Minimum Maximum Average 2/26/02 1 31 1.27 2/26/03 1 650 1.42 Books Viewed Per Session
Minimum Maximum Average 2/26/02 1 594 13.41 2/26/03 3 722 13.61 Pages Viewed Per Book
Minimum Maximum Average 2/26/02 7 594 17.15 2/26/03 1 1508 19.34 Pages Viewed Per Session
Data Interpretation • Increase in number of users • Increase in duration of sessions • Little difference in • Books viewed per session • Pages viewed per session • Pages viewed per book • Peak usage times correlate with time most libraries are open and available • Need to distinguish differences in time zones
Future Research • Identify the whys and hows of user satisficing of information needs • Online survey • Focus group interviews • Structured field observations • Structured interviews • Continue to collect, analyze, and compare transaction log data • Users’ geographical location • Identify books per unique user • Correlate data sets
Questions and Discussion connawal@oclc.org