User Behaviour Observational Study: analysis of usage data
In support of the study carrying out detailed observation of how individual students and researchers in Business and Economics use electronic information resources (my post of July 2), CIBER at UCL have provided an initial analysis of their e-book and e-journal usage data in Business and Economics as a working paper.
To quote from the Conclusions to the paper:
“Only tentative and draft conclusions are offered here because the study is ongoing and more data are to be evaluated. However, on the basis of the data we have evaluated it is clear that Business/Economics stands out in regard to e-book use in that:
1. these subjects are major and significant users of e-books in that they view them more, spend longer viewing titles and undertake much busier and intensive sessions
2. their e-book users tend to search off campus and are more likely to access the books via VLEs
3. a high proportion of e-book use comes from the newer universities (this is true for other subjects too)
In regard to e-journals, where a good deal more data evaluation has to be completed, it appears that Economists:
1. are significant users, especially so the ones from universities with big business schools
2. tend to search more out of hours and on weekends
3. have a strong preference for tables of contents and abstracts
4. read relatively low impact factor journals and have a tendency to favour current material”
CIBER’s main report will be included as an appendix to the report from the User Behaviour Observational Study later this year.
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