The potential of Google Analytics for tracking the reading behavior in web books
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-03-2022-0021 |
| Published date | 01 September 2022 |
| Date | 01 September 2022 |
| Pages | 532-541 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
| Author | Lukáš Porsche,Ladislava Zbiejczuk Suchá,Jan Martinek |
The potential of Google Analytics
for tracking the reading behavior
in web books
Luk
ašPorsche,Ladislava Zbiejczuk Such
aand Jan Martinek
Department of Information and Library Studies, Faculty of Arts,
Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to introduce Google Analytics as a format suitable for advanced
tracking of reading behavior within web books, set the metrics for measuringthe reading behavior of web
books and describe the first results of a pilot study.This paper offers suggestions for further deployment of
web books and web analyticsin digital libraries and evaluating web books’performance.
Design/methodology/approach –To understand the reading behaviorof web book users, researchers
use quantitativeresearch methods based on custom and advancedmetrics at Google Analytics.
Findings –Google Analytics is a valuabletool for tracking access to individual books and tracking entire
web book collections, mainly if researchersuse the combination of unique custom and advanced metrics. A
pilot study with 190 users uncovered significant results on reading behavior, for example, the strong
preferencefor scrolling over navigation buttons.
Research limitations/implications –This pilot study islimited to measuring two web books and 190
users. This study demonstrated a workable setup of metrics for measuring reading behavior; it would be
helpful to continuemeasurement with a larger sample of books and users.
Originality/value –Researchers in libraryand information science currently use web analytics mainly to
understanduser behavior on the website and in the catalog. This paper presents the possibilitiesof deploying
Google Analyticsdirectly in web books to understand reading behavior.
Keywords Metrics, Libraries, Digital libraries, Web analytics, Online reading, Web books
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Digital literary reading (Mangen et al., 2019) has become almost an everyday research
practice. Reading behavior as an embodied human–technology interaction (Mangen and
Weel, 2016) has become the subject of much research that focuses on different aspects of
digital books and digital reading. Thebody of research is both quantitative and qualitative
© Luk
ašPorsche, Ladislava Zbiejczuk Such
a and Jan Martinek. Published by Emerald Publishing
Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence.
Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both
commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and
authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/
legalcode
The research was carried out as part of the “Redesigning Library Services 2020: web-books”
project. The project (project number/name) is cofinanced with support from the Czech Technology
Agency under the ETA Programme. The authors would also like to thank the municipal library,
especially Vojt
ech Vojtíšek, which enabled the deployment of the new format of web books in the
electronic library.
DLP
38,4
532
Received12 March 2022
Revised12 May 2022
Accepted7 August 2022
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.38 No. 4, 2022
pp. 532-541
EmeraldPublishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-03-2022-0021
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