This thesis reports on a study undertaken at the Dixson Library, University of New
England. The purpose of the study was to develop an understanding of users of online
public access catalogues (OPACs). The understanding gained from the study will assist
in the development of improvements to the Library's OPAC, and increase user ability to
access information from the OPAC. The study replicated the user questionnaire of the
Online Patron Access Project, sponsored by the Council on Library Resources (CLR) in
1981/83. The questionnaire was modified slightly to suit conditions at the Dixson
Library.
The study addressed nine research questions relating to the users, their reactions,
attitudes, experiences and problems. The user task and their suggestions for
improvement were also addressed. The study formally tested three propositions between
the variables user task, success and attitudes in relation to OPAC users.
The findings show the analysis of the responses for the population as a whole, and,
where relevant, for eight groups of student respondents based on their academic
affiliation. The student population was of particular importance because of the
preponderance of external students at the University of New England. The differences in
the findings between the groups of students were discussed, and where possible,
explained. The three formal propositions were tested by carrying out Chi square tests for
the values of each variable. Nine significant relationships were found.
Comparisons were made between the Dixson Library findings and those of the CLR
study. Recommendations and conclusions were drawn from the study, including areas
for further research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218780 |
| Date | January 1989 |
| Creators | Barret, Beverley, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Information, Language & Culture Studies |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Beverley Barret |
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