INLS
180 Day 10 Notes
February
7, 2002
Big Points
The methods used to assess needs are context
dependent
Tailor information dissemination to user behavior
rather than trying to change user behavior
WWW is changing ivory towers [LC, BLS, etc….many ask
what about universities]
Velocity and acceleration in adoption
Feedback shapes info delivery
Assessing user needs is like debugging and
maintenance [huge cost, ongoing]
Multitasking is badge of US pride, fundamental to
culture
Questions
Does knowing people are observing change behavior?
[Bradner]
Tradoffs between interviews/focus groups and
t-logs? Cost effectiveness?
Is there a way to insure privacy on the net?
Are studies like BLS/LC done in smaller org
settings?
Why do American universities encourage question
asking but not K-12?
Who hires t-log specialists [Nielsen, Double-Click,
market research firms, etc.]
Why do we constantly rediscover the same ideas [big
L, little l]
How big is the www? How big will it get?
What are the tradeoffs between usability and
functionality?
How are orgs handling increased email and phone
questions as user-bases increase?
Session length implications?
If internet is public info, what about cell phone or
land line calls?
How to create better safety nets and help users help
themselves?
If people don’t read/use tutorials, why so much
effort to produce them [little in www]
Can t-logs tell whether searches were successful?
Were majority of users at BLS gov employees? [no
tiny fraction]
BLS reports online? [ recent at http://ils.unc.edu/~march/BLS_final_report_2001.pdf
and original with taxonomy at http://ils.unc.edu/~march/blsreport/mainbls.html
]
Balance of language standardization [soda vs pop a
geographic distinction that may help search, but will it burden the system or
homogenize behavior]
Dervin, B., & Nilan, M. (1986). Information needs and uses.
(David Knight)
Harris, R., & Dewdney, P. (1994). Theory and research on information
seeking. (Maria Paschall)
3. One-minute
paper
What was the big point you
learned in class today?
What is the main, unanswered
question you leave class with today?