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60 Years of Measuring the Use of Information and its Sources : From Consultation to A pplication by Donald O. Case University of Kentucky, USA. LIDA 2014. • 3 Eras of User Studies • Observing Outcomes • Trends in Studying Use • Why Outcomes Matter.
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60 Years of Measuring the Use of Information and its Sources:From Consultation to ApplicationbyDonald O. CaseUniversity of Kentucky, USA LIDA 2014
• 3 Eras of User Studies • Observing Outcomes • Trends in Studying Use • Why Outcomes Matter History of Observing Use, Effects and Outcomes
The Collection The Document The Chunk The 3 Eras Case LIDA
Identifying Origins: Some General Comments Three Eras
1836-1935: Collections 1936-1958: Documents 1959-Now: Chunks The 3 Eras Case LIDA
The Era of Collections • Long Essential to Library Management & Assessment • Breakdown of Collection Use • Collection/Services as Focus
The Era of Documents • What Book/Magazine/ Paper do Users Prefer, & Why? • Rare: What Happens as a Result? Outcomes of Exposure • Shift to Qualitative Methods
The Era of Chunks • Units of Information Smaller than a Document, e.g., an Answer • More Emphasis on Outcomes, e.g., Awareness or Tasks • Scientists, Engineers, Managers
What is “Use”? • An Ambiguous Word Use and Outcomes
What is “Use”? • An Ambiguous Word • Limited Observations Use and Outcomes
What is “Use”? • An Ambiguous Word • Limited Observations • Effects or Applications Rarely Measured in Past Use and Outcomes
What is “Use”? • An Ambiguous Word • Limited Observations • Effects or Application Rarely Measured in Past • But More Common Now Use and Outcomes
QUANTITATIVE MEASURES, e.g., • Yes-No Responses to Items like “I learned something new” or “I was reassured.” • Scalar Responses to Statements like “I tried to relate what I read to my own experience.” QUALITATIVE QUOTATIONS, e.g., • “What she told me made me feel better.” RESEARCHER SUMMARIES, e.g., • “The student’s essay showed how she had paraphrased the material she read.” What We Looked For
Study Results
Need Seeking Finding Use Potential Explanations
THEN: Need Seeking Finding Use NOW: Need Seeking Finding Use Outcome Potential Explanations
Observing Outcomes is Difficult Qualitative Methods are Better-Suited They were Not Popular Until the 1980s Potential Explanations
Another Potential Explanation: Pressure from External Environment • Parent/Funding Agencies of Libraries Want Better Results and Justifications Potential Explanations
Pressure from External Environment • Parent/Funding Agencies of Libraries Want Better Results and Justifications • LIS Scholars Face Similar Pressure, Plus Competition from Other Disciplines Potential Explanations
Conclusions • Assessing Outcomes is Important • May Require In-Depth Methods • Quantitative Measures Also Useful • Yet Such Measures also have Limits Final Point
Thank You for Listening! Hvala! Coffee, Anyone?