END USER SEARCHERS OF ONLINE BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATABASES IN AN INDUSTRIAL SETTING: TRAINING, USE AND PERCEIVED BENEFITS

• Other Authors: MONTGOMERY, JACQUELINE DELORES.
• Format: Others
• Subjects: Information Science
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/lib/digcoll/etd/3086556

A study of potential end users of online bibliographic searches was conducted in three parts at a product development location of a consumer products company. Part one was a survey of the population. Part two included collection and analysis of search data from a sample trained to conduct online bibliographic searches in either a one-day course or a two-hour seminar. Part three consisted of interviews with the sample at the close of the data collection phase. The survey data showed that interest in learning to search was associated with highest degree earned and type of previous exposure to online searching principles. The search data could not be analyzed for statistical significance of differences between the two types of training due to uneven search activity by subjects. Approximately half of the subjects trained did not conduct searches during the nine-month study, and of the searches obtained, more than half were conducted by only two subjects. Interview data revealed that availability of intermediaries and alternative resources, the perception that needed materials would not be available online, and difficulties in using computers and telecommunications software contributed to information users' decision not to conduct online bibliographic searches. Searchers considered convenience, time saved, and convincing others to support a decision as positive attributes of online searches. Concerns about frustration in use and missed information were viewed as negative attributes. Nonsearchers considered online searches conducted for them to have the positive attribute of convenience, and the negative attributes of time used and cost. Searchers and nonsearchers considered non-online sources to have positive attributes of convenience, time saved, relevance, and expertise, and negative attributes of information overload, time used, concerns about correctness and === frustration in use. This research may be used in management decision-making regarding feasible approaches to training end users to conduct their own searches, or to communicate with intermediary searchers. === Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-02, Section: A, page: 0238. === Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.