60 Years of Measuring the Use of Information and its Sources: From Consultation to Application by Donald O. Case University of Kentucky, USA LIDA 2014

3 Eras of User Studies Observing Outcomes Trends in Studying Use Why Outcomes Matter History of Observing Use, Effects and Outcomes

The Collection The Document The Chunk The 3 Eras Case LIDA

Identifying Origins: Some General Comments Three Eras

: Collections : Documents 1959-Now: Chunks The 3 Eras Case LIDA

Long Essential to Library Management & Assessment Breakdown of Collection Use Collection/Services as Focus The Era of Collections

What Book/Magazine/ Paper do Users Prefer, & Why? Rare: What Happens as a Result? Outcomes of Exposure Shift to Qualitative Methods The Era of Documents

Units of Information Smaller than a Document, e.g., an Answer More Emphasis on Outcomes, e.g., Awareness or Tasks Scientists, Engineers, Managers The Era of Chunks

An Ambiguous Word What is “Use”? Use and Outcome s

An Ambiguous Word Limited Observations What is “Use”? Use and Outcome s

An Ambiguous Word Limited Observations Effects or Applications Rarely Measured in Past What is “Use”? Use and Outcome s

An Ambiguous Word Limited Observations Effects or Application Rarely Measured in Past But More Common Now What is “Use”? Use and Outcome s

QUANTITATIVE MEASURES, e.g., Yes-No Responses to Items like “I learned something new” or “I was reassured.” Scalar Responses to Statements like “I tried to relate what I read to my own experience.” QUALITATIVE QUOTATIONS, e.g., “What she told me made me feel better.” RESEARCHER SUMMARIES, e.g., “The student’s essay showed how she had paraphrased the material she read.” What We Looked For

Study Results Years of SamplesNumber of Full Articles Number of Studies % Observed Outcomes

Need  Seeking  Finding  Use Potential Explanation s

THEN: Need  Seeking  Finding  Use NOW: Need  Seeking  Finding  Use  Outcome Potential Explanation s

Observing Outcomes is Difficult Qualitative Methods are Better-Suited They were Not Popular Until the 1980s Potential Explanation s

Another Potential Explanation: Pressure from External Environment Parent/Funding Agencies of Libraries Want Better Results and Justifications Potential Explanation s

Pressure from External Environment Parent/Funding Agencies of Libraries Want Better Results and Justifications LIS Scholars Face Similar Pressure, Plus Competition from Other Disciplines Potential Explanation s

Assessing Outcomes is Important May Require In-Depth Methods Quantitative Measures Also Useful Yet Such Measures also have Limits Conclusions Final Point

Thank You for Listening! Hvala! Coffee, Anyone?