Using screen capture to study user research behavior
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831111174413 |
| Published date | 06 September 2011 |
| Date | 06 September 2011 |
| Pages | 446-454 |
| Author | Bonnie Imler,Michelle Eichelberger |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Using screen capture to study
user research behavior
Bonnie Imler
Penn State Altoona, Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA, and
Michelle Eichelberger
Genesee Community College, Batavia, New York, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on how researchers at Penn State University used
video screen capture technology to learn more about student usage of the library’s databases.
Design/methodology/approach – The process of identifying and implementing a novel way to
capture and analyze the human-computer interaction is outlined and discussed.
Findings – Because of the drawbacks associated with both formal, direct physical observation of
research participants and videotaping participants, video screen capture technology is chosen as a
better way to track human-computer interaction.
Practical implications – Video screen capture technology is an inexpensive, user-friendly way to
enhance electronic resource usability studies in any library. Research files can be easily exported into
coding software for data analysis.
Originality/value – The paper examines a new, non-invasiv e way to capture student research
behavior. It shows how any library could use this same technology to conduct research on how their
resources are being used by their user population.
Keywords Video screen capture,Usability study, Universitylibraries, Video, User studies,Behaviour,
Students, Libraryusers
Paper type Technical paper
Introduction
Millions of dollars are spent every year in academic libraries on electronic resources
such as library catalogs, databases, and citation linking software, and librarians spend
countless hours teaching students how to use these electronic resources. In order to
make sure that this is money and time well spent, librarians and college administrators
are always looking for innovative ways to assess student use of these resources, both
to justify electronic resource funding and to help tailor library instruction programs to
address student needs. Focus groups, surveys, and usage statistics analysis provide
useful data about resource usage, but they do not show exactly how the resourc es are
being used by students.
Direct observation of student research activities is a usability study tool that is often
used to assess electronic resource usage, but there are several problems associated with
this research method. The physical presence of the researcher can affect the student’s
behavior, it can be difficult to manually note each action taken by the student, and
there may also be problems with bias, where the observer only sees what they expect
or what they want to see. Recording student behavior with a video camera is a less
invasive way to capture usage data, but it still requires the researcher to watch the
proceedings and manually take notes on the student activities. Video screen capture
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
29,3
446
Received March 2011
Revised March 2011
Accepted April 2011
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 29 No. 3, 2011
pp. 446-454
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378831111174413
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