University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Comparative analysis of user searching in domain-specific and domain-independent digital libraries

Zavalina, Oksana L.; Vassilieva, Elena V.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/39747

Description

Title
Comparative analysis of user searching in domain-specific and domain-independent digital libraries
Author(s)
  • Zavalina, Oksana L.
  • Vassilieva, Elena V.
Issue Date
2013-02
Keyword(s)
  • digital libraries
  • information search
  • search queries
  • transaction log analysis
  • human-computer interaction
  • information behavior
  • information organization
  • measurement
  • domain-specific digital libraries
  • domain-independent digital libraries
  • search categories
Abstract
This note reports preliminary results of a comparative transaction log analysis study of user searching in two digital libraries in the United States — a large-scale digital library in the domain of US history and a domain-independent federal-level digital library that aggregates digital collections regardless of their subject scope. This investigation reveals similarities in user search behavior among the two types of digital libraries with regard to rate of collection-level search use and application of search limits, most often occurring search categories, etc. At the same time, notable differences are observed in the rate of fielded search and phrase search use, average search query length and frequencies, and distribution of some search categories. This study provides empirical data to support digital library developers’ decision making regarding audience-based information organization in large-scale digital libraries.
Publisher
iSchools
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/39747
DOI
https://doi.org/10.9776/13272
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
  • University of North Texas Office of Research and Economic Development
  • Texas Center for Digital Knowledge
Copyright and License Information
Copyright © 2013 is held by the authors. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

Owning Collections

iConference 2013 notes PRIMARY