A transaction log analysis of a digital library

Jones, Steve; Cunningham, Sally Jo; McNab, Rodger J.; Boddie, Stefan J.

doi:10.1007/s007999900022

Cited by 131 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Allhough transaction log analysis (TLA) has been applied extensively to the study of search behavior on conventional library OPACs, few studies of digital libraries (for example, ( [2], [5]) or olher large-scale WWW-based document collections (for example, fSD exist. Presumably few log analyses exist because digilal libraries have only rcccntly scen usage levels warranting analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…'This analysis is compared wiLh results from previous studies of two OIher digital libraries: the Computer Science Technical Reports (CSTR) collection developed by the New Zealand Digital Library projecL l ; and the Computer Science Bibliographies~(CSBm) maintained by Alf-Chrisian Achilles at Karlsruhe University. The CSTR log analysis statistics described in this paper are presented in more detail in [2]; Lhe CSBm results were previously published in [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Search Behavior in a Research-Oriented Digital Library

Mahoui

Cunningham

Research and Advanced Technology for Digital Libraries

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Abs1l"act: This paper presents II lrnll5llclion log analysis of RcscaJl:bIndcx, a digital librnry for computcr scicncc rescarchcl1>. Rcscnn:bTndcx is an impol1:lll1 information resource for members of Ihis target group, and the colleclion sees significant use worldwide. Queries fmm over six months of usagc were analyzed, to dcterminc paUcms in query cOll'ilrUction and scan:h session behavior. Whcrc appropriatc, Ihcsc results arc compared to earlier studies of search behavior in two other computing digitallibrnries.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Search Behavior in a Research-Oriented Digital Library

Mahoui

Cunningham

Research and Advanced Technology for Digital Libraries

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“…Transaction log analysis has been employed to study users of web search engines (Jansen and Pooch, 200;Wen et al, 2002), OPACs (Lau et al, 2006), library websites (Ghaphery, 2005), digital libraries (Jones et al, 2000;Zuccala and Thelwall, 2007), and electronic journals (Nicholas et al, 2005). Jansen (2006) presents transaction log analysis as a methodological framework along with strengths and limitations of this method in research.…”

Section: Introduction and Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploration of Interdisciplinarity in Nanotechnology Queries: The Use of Transaction Log Analysis and Thesauri

Shiri¹

2009

Advances in Classification Research Online

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Nanoscience and technology is characterized by nano researchers as an increasingly interdisciplinary domain, drawing upon such disciplines as chemistry, physics, materials science, and computer, electrical, mechanical and biomedical engineering. A key challenge faced by information professionals involved in organizing and providing the related information services is to efficiently identify information resources and to carry out inclusive and effective searches in a diverse and heterogeneous range of digital libraries, web-based databases and search engines. This demand emphasizes the importance of thinking about and developing methodological models for investigating interdisciplinary knowledge organization practices. This 2008 study examined the extent of interdisciplinarity in user queries submitted to the NANOnetBASE digital library. Transaction logs of the digital library were analyzed to explore users' search behaviour patterns and to examine the extent to which user queries were interdisciplinary. The Inspect thesaurus and Classification codes were utilized as the disciplinary or interdisciplinary focus of the queries. The results indicate that 62% of the unique top terms resulting from mapping users' query terms to the INSPEC Classification codes represented two or more disciplines, specifically terms associated with the Classification code 'A' representing "physics." The results contribute to the development of more critical information organization and classification practices in such an increasingly interdisciplinary domain as nanoscience and technology.Subject terms: digital libraries, interdisciplinarity, knowledge organization, information retrieval Introduction and contextThe interdisciplinary nature of nanoscience and technology poses challenges of efficient searching and retrieval of pertinent information from a wide range of electronic sources. These challenges affect both nano researchers and information professionals who provide library and information services to them. To create better information search services and systems and to properly organize and represent nanotechnology information, it is essential to explore and identify problems and issues associated with interdisciplinary searching in the context of nanotechnology. At present, there is very little research to inform the design and development of information services, knowledge organization systems, user interfaces and digital libraries that can accommodate interdisciplinary searching in nanotechnology. Bates (1996) argues that studying information seeking in interdisciplinary fields can inform us of the needs and problems of people in those fields and notes that interdisciplinary researchers constitute a significant and distinctive class of scholars, deserving of research on their information-seeking behavior.

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“…By setting the default language of the Niupepa Collection to Māori we are clearly going against the preferences of the majority of potential users. Research undertaken by Jones (Jones et al 2000) suggests that users of a digital library system rarely amend the default settings for options with regard to query types and result displays.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Happens if We Switch the Default Language of a Website?

Keegan

Cunningham

2005

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies

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Abstract:In this paper we investigate the effect of the default interface language setting on a bilingual website. Log file analysis is undertaken to determine usage patterns of the Niupepa digital library (a collection of historic Māori language newspapers) when the default interface language is switched between Māori and English in alternate weeks. Activity is grouped into active user sessions, which are further analysed to determine methods of access and searching patterns. The results clearly show that changing the default language of a website will affect the ways in which users access information.

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A transaction log analysis of a digital library

Cited by 131 publications

References 19 publications

Search Behavior in a Research-Oriented Digital Library

Search Behavior in a Research-Oriented Digital Library

Exploration of Interdisciplinarity in Nanotechnology Queries: The Use of Transaction Log Analysis and Thesauri

What Happens if We Switch the Default Language of a Website?

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