Dissertation Information for Ray R. Larson NAME: - Ray R. Larson
- (Alias) Ray Reed Larson
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- University of California, Berkeley (USA) (1986)
ADVISORS: - Michael D. Cooper
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Michael Buckland - Lawrence Arnold Rowe
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: WORKLOAD CHARACTERISTICS AND COMPUTER SYSTEM UTILIZATION IN ONLINE LIBRARY CATALOGS
Abstract: This dissertation addresses the problems of measuring and evaluating the performance of online library catalog systems. The structure and functions of online catalogs, and the characteristics and needs of online catalog users are examined to provide a context for discussing performance measurement and evaluation. Various methodologies of computer performance evaluation are examined. Specific performance measures and methods of measurement and modelling for online catalog systems are described.
Transaction monitoring, where each command processed by the online catalog system is recorded along with its associated performance measures, was found to offer the greatest advantages for online catalog performance evaluation. This methodology is applied to a large and complex online catalog system, and the results are examined and discussed. The performance characteristics of the system are modelled using regression techniques and the factors that determine system performance are examined. The findings of the research concerning the importance of system workload in determining performance, the role of system and command complexity, and of the utility and value of transaction monitoring as a methodology for evaluation of online catalog systems are discussed.
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