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Cited by 126Library Science and Information LiteracyInformation Retrieval and Search BehaviorWeb and Library Services

“I still like Google”: University student perceptions of searching OPACs and the web

Open access
Fast, Karl V., Campbell, D. Grant·2004·Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology
DOI 10.1002/meet.1450410116
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Abstract

This paper reports on an exploratory study of how university students perceive and interact with Web search engines compared to Web‐based OPACs. A qualitative study was conducted involving sixteen students, eight of whom were first‐year undergraduates and eight of whom were graduate students in Library and Information Science. The participants performed searches on Google and on a university OPAC. The interviews and think‐afters revealed that while students were aware of the problems inherent in Web searching and of the many ways in which OPACS are more organized, they generally preferred Web searching. The coding of the data suggests that the reason for this preference lies in psychological factors associated with the comparative ease with which search engines can be used, and system and interface factors which made searching the Web much easier and less confusing. As a result of these factors, students were able to approach even the drawbacks of the Web—its clutter of irrelevant pages and the dubious authority of the results—in an enthusiastic and proactive manner, very different from the passive and ineffectual admiration they expressed for the OPAC. The findings suggest that requirements of good OPAC interface design must be aggressively redefined in the face of new, Web‐based standards of usability.

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Bruce, H. (1998). User satisfaction with information seeking on the Internet. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 49(6), 541-556.
  2. Google. (2000, July 13). Google's Success Stoly Continues: Google Ranked No. I in NPD Search & Portal Scorecard Measuring Loyalty and Satisfaction. Available: <http://www .google.com/press/pressrel/pressrelease29.html~.
  3. Pearrow, M. (2000). Web site usability handook. Hingham, MA: Charles River Media. 47(7), 493-503. 371-392. 207-227. 2004 Proceedings of the 67th ASlS&T Annual Meeting, vol. 41
  4. Rubin, 3. (1994). Handbookof usabilify testing. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
  5. Slone, D. J. (2000). Encounters with the OPAC: On-line searching in public libraries. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 51(8), 151-113.
  6. Spink, A,, Wolfram, D., Jansen, M. B., & Saracevic, T. (2001). Searching the Web: The public and their queries. Journal of the American Sociery for Information Science and Technology,
  7. Sullivan, D. (2003, Feb. 25). Searches per day. In http:i/searchenginewatch.com/reportsiarticle.php/2 1 5646 1 > 52(3), 226-234.

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Authors
Fast, K. V., & Campbell, D. G.
Affiliations
Western University (CA)
ORCID
Campbell, D. Grant
Venue
Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-01
Volume
41
Issue
1
Pages
138-146
ISSN
  • 0044-7870 (ISSN-L)
  • 1550-8390
DOI
10.1002/meet.1450410116
OpenAlex
W2062551457
Cited by
126
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 13
FWCI
18.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 630 d)
Locations
Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Library and Information Sciences › Library Science and Information Literacy
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Information Retrieval and Search Behavior
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Web and Library Services
Keywords
university students, search engines, OPAC, student perceptions, Google, usability, interface design, information seeking, library catalog searching, think-aloud

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