User experience of Encore:a mental models approach

Andrew PreaterSenate House LibrariesUniversity of London

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Our readers understanding of EncoreWhat this means for us

What I’ll talk about

Encore live June 2011

Positioned as default catalog

Positioning Encore

Breeding, M. (2010). Next-gen library catalogs. London: Facet

Mental models

3. Unscientific2. Unstable1. Incomplete

4. Lack firm boundaries

Maya (age 10), primary school pupilhttp://www.canyoudrawtheinternet.com

“The mental model of a device is formed largely by interpreting its perceived actions and its visible structure.”

Norman, D.A. (1988) The design of everyday things. 2nd edn. New York, NY: Doubleday.

Designing for library users

1. A consistent conceptual model...

2. A consistent and intelligible user experience...

3. You only need train users on the conceptual model

Does that match your experience?

Catalog mental models

Borgman, C. (1986) ‘The user’s mental model of an information retrieval system: an experiment on a prototype online catalog’, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 51 (2), pp. 435-452.

Dimitroff, A. (1992) ‘Mental models theory and search outcome in a bibliographic retrieval system’, Library and Information Science Research, 14 (2), pp. 141-155.

1.Contents of the database

2.Interactive nature of the system

3.Existence of multiple files

4.Multiple fields within each record

5.Multiple indexes and / or inverted indexes

6.Boolean search capability

7.Keyword search capability

8.Use of controlled vocabulary

Dimitroff, A. (1992) ‘Mental models theory and search outcome in a bibliographic retrieval system’, Library and Information Science Research, 14 (2), pp. 141-155.

Clements Library Card by David Fulmer, license CC-BY http://flic.kr/p/7Cs5gQ

Investigating mental models

1. Cognitive walkthroughs

2. Structured interview using Repertory Grid Technique

3. Stories, anecdotes, and conversations

Repertory Grid Technique?

Crudge, S.E. and Johnson, F.C. (2007) ‘Using the repertory grid and laddering technique to determine the user's evaluative model of search engines’, Journal of Documentation, 63 (2) pp. 259–280

Constructs

‘Clear user interface’versus

‘Cluttered user interface’

‘A specialist tool’versus

‘A general search tool’

‘Terms in catalog are easy to understand’versus

‘Stuffy or out-dated jargon’

Rate your catalogs on a five point scale:

WebPAC Encore Ideal catalog

‘Cluttered user

interface’4 2 1 ‘Clear user

interface’

Repeat 10 constructs, 10 participants

Sort grids using ‘FOCUS’

Can now represent it visually

Shaw, M.L.G. and Thomas, L.F. (1978) ‘FOCUS on education – an interactive computer system for the development and analysis of repertory grids’, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 10 (2), pp. 139-173.

A completed grid

1. Summary of grid data

Encore closer to ideal than the WebPAC to the ideal

Strongly contrasting views of Encore

2. Summary of qualitative data

Readers behave like they’re using web search

Encore encourages this behavior?

Affective aspects of catalog use

Implications for the library

Staff training focused on explaining the system

Small groups trained in-depth on Encore

One approach won’t suit all readers

Feedback is generally positive

How we followed up on this

Thank youMe: @preater

andrew.preater@london.ac.uk

www.preater.com

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