Influences of general computer experience and age on library database search performance
Abstract
Two experiments examined the effects of general computer experience and age on library system search performance among novice library system users. Twenty younger adults (10 with high and 10 with low computer experience) and 20 older adults (10 with low and 10 with no computer experience) performed 10 search tasks of varying difficulty. Search success, syntax errors, database field specifications, keyword specifications, and use of Boolean operators were examined. Among younger novices, high computer experience was associated with slightly better performance than low computer experience. Among older novices, having some computer experience was associated with much better performance than no computer experience. Older computer users showed lower overall success rates, made more syntax and field specification errors, and demonstrated poorer understanding of Boolean logic and keyword matching algorithms than younger adults with similar computer experience. Implications for interface design and training interventions for novice on-line library system users are discussed.
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Younger adults benefited more from the availability of Boolean search tools because they used them more frequently and had a better understanding of how they functioned.
“younger adults benefi ted more from the availability of these search tools because they used them more frequently and had a better understanding of how they functioned ( Mead, Sit, Rogers, Rousseau, & Jamieson, 2000 ).”
From Toward a Psychological Science of Advanced Technology Design for Older Adults (2010) · cites this paper as Mead, Sit, Rogers, Rousseau, & Jamieson, 2000
Studies have provided insights about age-related difficulties with specific technologies such as automatic teller machines, online library systems, and cell phones.
“Studies have also provided insights about age-related diffi culties with specifi c technologies such as automatic teller machines ( Rogers & Fisk, 1997 ), online library systems ( Mead et al., 2000 ;Rousseau, Jamieson, Rogers, Mead, & Sit, 1998 ), cell phones ( Jastrzembski & Charness, 2008 ), and more ( for reviews, see Nichols, Rogers, & Fisk, 2006 ;Rogers, Stronge, & Fisk, 2006 ).”
From Toward a Psychological Science of Advanced Technology Design for Older Adults (2010) · cites this paper as Mead et al., 2000
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- Authors
- Mead, S. E., Sit, R. A., Rogers, W. A., Jamieson, B. A., & Rousseau, G. K.
- Affiliations
- Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
- University of Georgia (US)
- ORCID
- Rogers, Wendy A.
- Venue
- Behaviour & Information Technology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2000-01
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 107-123
- ISSN
- 0144-929X (ISSN-L)
- 1362-3001
- OpenAlex
- W2092686748
- Cited by
- 76
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 14.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour and Information Technology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- American Psychological Association
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute on Aging
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Library and Information Sciences › Library Science and Information Literacy
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Information Retrieval and Search Behavior
- Social Sciences › Demography › Technology Use by Older Adults
- Keywords
- library database searching, computer experience, age differences, older adults, novice users, search performance, Boolean operators, keyword matching, syntactic errors, interface design, user training, online library systems
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