Using Transaction Log Analysis to Improve OPAC Retrieval Results

Blecic, Deborah D.; Bangalore, Nirmala S.; Dorsch, Josephine L.; Henderson, Cynthia L.; Koenig, Melissa; Weller, Ann C.

doi:10.5860/crl.59.1.39

Cited by 38 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Deborah Bleccic, et al conducted an analysis of transaction logs that indicated that users experience difficulty with basic searching techniques. 1 In a study conducted by Weijing Yuan, results indicate that searchers develop simple search strategies early on and tend to use these patterns repeatedly regardless of experience using the search engine.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Index Relativity and Patron Search Strategy

Allison¹,

Childers²

2002

pla

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This study compares searches in two different keyword indexes with similar content. Search results are dependent on the quality of the search strategy, the search engine execution, and the content the search is run against. This study examines the degree to which changing the search engine execution with only slight changes in index content would have on search results. The results indicate that search engine execution has a dramatic impact on the number of matches for most searches. Analysis also reveals that user search strategy did not change even though the way the search engine executes the search changed dramatically and new features and commands that they could use to refine their searches were added. Users appear to be ignoring search help screens and continue to do basic searches that negatively affect the number of relevant matches. Providing more features for constructing better searches will not necessarily result in better search strategy.I n this age of information overload the ability to extract information from large databases has never been more important. Search engines have undergone considerable change since the early days when Boolean searching was considered revolutionary. Nevertheless the perfect search engine still eludes librarians. This is partially because of the relative nature of the search process. Search results are relative to the user's search strategy, the fields that are indexed, and the way the search is executed by the search engine. Librarians have known for many years that search algorithms have a dramatic effect on search results. Likewise, many debates have been centered on the question of what content is best to index. However, little research has been conducted on the question of how search engine execution influences results, or the combined effects of the three conditions. In the fall of 2000, librarians at the University of NebraskaLincoln had the unique opportunity to study two different keyword indexes that execute searches very differently.Prior to December 2000, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries (UNL) used the Word Index purchased when the Innovative Interfaces Inc. (III) system was installed in 1990. This search engine executes a search using a set of "rules" to govern the search 146Index Relativity and Patron Search Strategy process. All punctuation marks and diacritics are ignored and spaces between words are treated as a Boolean "AND." For example, "short stories" searches as "short AND stories," not the phrase "short stories." Apostrophes are removed; for example "clarissa's" is searched as "clarissas." The index also ignores common words such as "a", "an", "the", and single letters. Items in parentheses are evaluated first, with multiple parentheses being evaluated in a left to right progression. Boolean operators are not treated as equals by the search engine, which searches "ANDs" before "NOTs" and then "NOTs" before "ORs."For example, the search Merlin or Arthur and Henry V would search as: Arthur AND Henry OR Merlin The search engin...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Index Relativity and Patron Search Strategy

Allison¹,

Childers²

2002

pla

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“…There are various studies in which two sets of transaction log data were used to understand the usability and user-friendliness of search interfaces, one before any modifications in the interfaces and the other after the modifications. Earlier data for interfaces without modifications reveal that the users are not fully compatible with the basic search techniques, while the later show statistically significant differences in the results revealing that the modified interfaces are more compatible and userfriendly as the users show positive effect in their search attitude while working after the interfaces are being modified [23][24][25] . Designers are more likely to be successful in designing interfaces if they spend time with users, observing how they work…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 98%

A step towards designing a Model Academic Search Interface

Shafiq¹

2018

DJLIT

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and subsequently determine their relative location, with a view to recommend ideal location of these features based on their utility and users' ease of mind. Data is harvested by assessing the search interfaces of seven academic databases subscribed by University of Kashmir. The select databases are individually assessed to harvest the required information. The study divulges that uniformity is observed by databases while positioning features like access points, and search box(s). However, no consistent approach is found while positioning other identified features. It is imperative to say that the study is first of its kind where an emphasis is laid on assessing the positioning of search interface features. The study can prove helpful for academic database designers while designing user-friendly academic databases.Keywords : Information retrieval; Information retrieval systems; Search interface; Search features; Browsing;Alerting service InTroDucTIonInformation Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionised the world by producing and disseminating an endless amount of valuable and important information for every activity identified so far 1 . To find the relevant information in such a huge mass of information, an efficient and reliable information retrieval (IR) is necessary. IR is an iterative interactive process between users and a search system 2-5 . It is designed with a view that right information should be made available to the right user at the right time. Thus, the main objective of an information retrieval system (IRS) is to collect and organize information in order to provide it to users whenever they are in need of it 6 . During the early stages of IR, there was much role of an information professional than the users themselves. The professionals used to establish the information needs of users which were later satisfied using their expertise. Even though there is still some focus on intermediate searching, the present day web-based IR systems are designed in such a way where users can search themselves to fulfill their information needs

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“…Transaction logs have been used successfully to improve user interfaces of traditional OPACs in libraries. 4 This article discusses the use of transaction logs to improve the user interface for the ASDB. The logs analyzed herein represent usage from October 2000 through September 2001 for the initial user interface and usage from February 2002 through April 2002 for the improved user interface.…”

Section: Approach and Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Information Retrieval in Domain-specific Databases: An Analysis to Improve the User Interface of the Alcohol Studies Database

Jantz

2003

CRL

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Academic libraries are becoming more directly involved in the design and publishing of electronic information resources, including bibliographic databases, electronic journals, and digital archives. As a result, librarians are dealing with many user interface design issues that computer scientists and information specialists in other fields have encountered. Transaction log analysis can provide a rich source of information on user behavior and insights as to how user interfaces can be improved. This article describes the methodology and results of the log analysis for the Alcohol Studies Database (ASDB), a domain-specific database supported by the Center of Alcohol Studies and Rutgers University Libraries (RUL). The goals of this study were to better understand user search behavior, to analyze failure rates, and to develop approaches for improving the user interface.he ASDB content was developed by the Center of Alcohol Studies at Rutgers University, and the Web site and user interface were designed by the Scholarly Communication Center of RUL. An overview of the ASDB is provided as a backdrop for the in-depth analysis of the user interface and transaction logs. As part of the design to provide Web access to the ASDB, the author developed a statistical gathering and reporting subsystem. Activated in October 2000, this subsystem has since provided more than two full years of statistics on search behavior. As a result of the log analysis, specific improvements have been made to the ASDB user interface. A unique aspect of this article is the summary of the transaction logs before and after improvements to the user interface, which illustrates how the changes have affected search behavior and search results. IntroductionAcademic libraries are becoming more directly involved in the design and publishing of electronic information resources, including bibliographic databases, elec-

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Using Transaction Log Analysis to Improve OPAC Retrieval Results

Cited by 38 publications

References 7 publications

Index Relativity and Patron Search Strategy

Index Relativity and Patron Search Strategy

A step towards designing a Model Academic Search Interface

Information Retrieval in Domain-specific Databases: An Analysis to Improve the User Interface of the Alcohol Studies Database

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