Information Retrieval in Domain-specific Databases: An Analysis to Improve the User Interface of the Alcohol Studies Database
Author(s) -
Ronald C. Jantz
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
college and research libraries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.886
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 2150-6701
pISSN - 0010-0870
DOI - 10.5860/crl.64.3.229
Subject(s) - computer science , transaction log , database transaction , interface (matter) , database , user interface , domain (mathematical analysis) , world wide web , information retrieval , digital library , intelligent database , database design , database testing , database schema , art , mathematical analysis , mathematics , poetry , bubble , literature , maximum bubble pressure method , parallel computing , operating system
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.
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom