Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1901/577
| Title: | A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Novice Undergraduate Students with Online Finding Aids |
| Authors: | Rita Diane Johnston |
| Keyword: | Archives/Cataloging |
| Keyword: | Use studies/Internet resources |
| Keyword: | End-user searching |
| Keyword: | Finding aids |
| Issue Date: | 24-Nov-2008 |
| Publisher: | School of Information and Library Science |
| Abstract: | This paper presents findings from a study that explored obstacles undergraduate students who are novice users of archives face when using online finding aids, and to what extent these barriers negatively impact their ability to use finding aids to access primary source materials. A usability study of four different finding aids was conducted with eight undergraduate students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The study participants completed a set of tasks with the finding aids in individual sessions, which were recorded. Then participants were asked while reviewing their recording in a stimulated recall session to describe any characteristics of the finding aids that posed a particular challenge or that made using them easier. Although participants faced barriers, particularly in the language, organization, and visual presentation of finding aids, as a whole the subjects performed well and were able to answer most of the questions in a reasonable amount of time. Two... |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1901/577 |
| Appears in Collections: | SILS Master's Papers |
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