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Dissertation Information for Mi-hyeon Kim

NAME:
- Mi-hyeon Kim

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- Florida State University (USA) (1996)

ADVISORS:
- Charles Conaway

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Elisabeth A. Logan
- Lois Hawkes
- F. William Summers

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: Influence of several screen design variables on the usability of an OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog): An empirical investigation

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine how selected variables affect the usability of the OPAC screen designs in terms of success rate, search time, and users' preferences. The study was conducted in the computer laboratory of the College of Education, at Florida State University. Thirty junior and senior students majoring in Education participated in the study. The research findings indicated that only one factor of different index displays affected the success rates of the students. Students had higher success rates with an index display sorted by title than with an index display sorted by year and than an index display sorted by author's name.

The inherent difficulties of certain questions and a student's ability were the major sources of variation in search time and success rates. The study found that the motivation of the students was the another important factor affecting their performance.

Users preferred color to black and white, preferred GATS (Gutter-Aligned and Author/Title Split) format to FL (Flush Left) format, preferred GVS (Gutter-Aligned and Vertical Spacing) format to FL (Flush Left) format, preferred icon-based OPAC to text-based OPAC, preferred an index display sorted by author to an index display sorted by title, and preferred an index display sorted by title rather than an index display sorted by year.

With the results of this study, a specific interface was determined to be the best choice for OPAC screen designs among the 36 tested interfaces, with more focus on performance of users than on their preferences. Another interface might be a good choice of screen design if more weight were given to the preferences of users than to their performance.

The findings suggest that OPAC systems can be optimized to enhance users' performance. If users' preferences and performances conflict with each other, designers should give more weight to performance because of the library's mission is to satisfy users' information needs.

MPACT Scores for Mi-hyeon Kim

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:05:24

Advisors and Advisees Graph

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Students under Mi-hyeon Kim

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None