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EU Online Information Usage 2009

Angela Joyce

December 2009

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The survey

• Used BOS software from Uni of Bristol http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/

• Nearly identical survey run in 2008 and published by UACES

• Aimed at researchers, lecturers or information people involved in European studies

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Methodology

• Mix of open and multiple choice Qs• Via email lists/Twitter/work/blog• CF last year’s survey• Literature search• Results via ALISS, Intute channels

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Summary of findings

• 122 people responded cf 145, ‘08• Europa - much feedback• Top websites• Happier or not?• Changes from last year?

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2. Main subject/discipline?

• Majority: law and politics• And…

international relations, economics, EU integration, energy, social sciences

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3. Level of online research skills?

Most users considered they had a high level of skills…

Level of online research skills?

73%

26%

1%

Experienced

Intermediate

Novice

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4. How often do you use online EU info?• 50% every day• 33.9% weekly• 16.1% less (!)

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5. Services used most?

• Europa 103 ple• Journals 76• Search engines

73• News sites 71• Social s/ware 6!

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6. Top websites?

• Europa – 46 ple (103 ple use it)• EUR-Lex – 13• Others – mix – eg. EU Observer,

Eurostat, Google, Intute, Europarl

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6a. Why?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Colleagues/friendsuse it

Other

Ease of use

It's free

Quality of content

I find what I want

Series1

77%

68%

62%

36%

18%

13%

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7. Main issues with EU online services?• Complex, hard to navigate52%• Info not available 22%• Other reasons 22%• Forget passwords 18%• My instit doesn’t subscribe12%• Site crashes 5%

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8. New Europa site easier?

• Yes: 54.5%• No: 42.6%• Don’t use: 3%• Because ..better org,

navigation, prettier! • But many negative

comments…dumbed down, bad search, not complete overhaul

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9. How could EU online services be improved?

• Search engine – Europa• Analyse traffic• Have 2 interfaces on Europa – 1 for

public, 1 for research• Some positive comments too

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10. Paper-based services

• 75% = highest• 50% some..• Most – not much• Reasons: Not available, bad for

eyes!

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11. Any changes/trends?

• Total replies 59• ‘No’ 23• Growing no of services, including

blogs• Simpler services – good• Info overload

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Summary and what next?

• Publicise results! • Twitter• ALISS• European Comm?• UACES?• Run next year

?

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Intute: EuroStudies http://www.intute.ac.uk/mlas/

• Within Mod Langs and Area Studies

• EU section• Browse/search• Blog• Twitter channel

(Intuteeuro)

EU section here

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Thank you!

Angela Joyce

angela.joyce@bristol.ac.uk