Ease of use versus user control: an evaluation of Web and non‐Web interfaces of online databases
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520010330265 |
| Date | 01 April 2000 |
| Pages | 102-115 |
| Published date | 01 April 2000 |
| Author | Hong (Iris) Xie,Colleen Cool |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Ease of use versus user
control: an evaluation
of Web and non-Web
interfaces of online
databases
Hong (Iris) Xie and Colleen Cool
Introduction
World Wide Web access to online databases is
becoming more pervasive, and this
development is one of the most important
factors influencing developments among
database producers, vendors and users. From
1975 to 1998, the number of databases grew
from 301 to 11,339; producers have increased
from 200 to 3,686; and vendors have grown
from 105 to 2,459. In addition, the estimated
number of searchers has increased from
approximately 750,000 in 1994 to 90 million
in 1998 (Williams, 1999). Notess (1998)
further pointed out that 1998 saw increased
consolidation of Web-based search systems
and greater sophistication from database
vendors in their delivery of database
information via the Web.
Within this environment, some Windows-
based online system providers are planning to
transfer their services to the Web. For
example, Dow Jones Interactive plans to build
a Web interface with all the functionality of
the latest Windows software. The Dow Jones
News/Retrieval software, version 5.0 marks
the transition for the entire service to a full
Web interface (Feldman, 1996). LEXIS-
NEXIS is developing eight information
channels for Internet Explorer which include
legal, insurance and finance channels
(Poyner, 1998).
A fundamental characteristic of Web-based
searching is that it is inherently interactive,
and that it facilitates a variety of ways for
users to interact with both information and
systems. Some of the significant
characteristics of these new Web-based access
mechanisms are that they:
.guide user access to a variety of
databases;
.facilitate multiple interactive search
strategies, such as browsing, searching,
etc.;
.assist mapping to thesaurus terms;
.offer interactive help mechanisms;
.afford multiple manipulations of output;
.provide iterative movement by links.
In general, Web interfaces are more intuitive
and flexible to use. Koehler and Mincey
(1996) compared the dial-up access and Web
access method, and concluded that
FirstSearch Web was a major improvement.
The authors
Hong (Iris) Xie is an Assistant Professor in the School of
Library and Information Science at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, USA.
Colleen Cool is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate
School of Library and Information Studies, at Queens
College, City University of New York, New York, USA.
Keywords
Online retrieval, Databases, Information retrieval, Internet
Abstract
This paper reports on an investigation comparing searcher
experiences with Web and non-Web interfaces to online
databases. The study was designed to address the
following questions: what is the nature of searcher
preferences for Web versus non-Web interfaces to online
databases and, more specifically, what are the
characteristics of Web and non-Web based interfaces that
help or hinder effective searching? Two samples of
students enrolled in a graduate level Advanced Databases
Searching course were used as participants in the
research. In this class, the students used several Web and
non-Web based online databases. The data collectedfrom
self-administered open-ended questionnaires were
employed in the analysis to address the researchquestions
posed above. Results of the study indicate that some of
the functions of Web interfaces outperform non-Web
interfaces; but at the same time they are not universally
preferred. An important dynamic that surfaced in this
study which helped to explain searcher preference for one
type of interface over another was that of user control
versus ease of use in the search process. This study
concludes with an argument for greater attention to the
tension between user control and ease of use in the design
of effective and useful interactive online retrieval systems.
Electronic access
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emerald-library.com
Received January 2000
Accepted February 2000
102
Online Information Review
Volume 24 .Number 2 .2000 .pp. 102±115
#MCB University Press .ISSN 1468-4527
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