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A study on the user evaluation for an RDA-based Korean bibliography retrieval system

Seulki Do (iSchool - Library & Information Science and Data Science, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Seoul, Republic of Korea)
Sam G. Oh (iSchool - Library & Information Science and Data Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea)
Sungin Lee (School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea)

Library Hi Tech

ISSN: 0737-8831

Article publication date: 21 September 2015

1761

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to validate the usefulness of resource description and access (RDA) from user perspectives by implementing an RDA-based bibliographic retrieval system, and comparing it against two retrieval systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys and interviews were conducted to gather responses from 20 subjects who used the systems. Usability was measured according to the following metrics: search usefulness from search process and results; search efficiency, measured in time and the number of steps involved; general satisfaction for search results and process, and for information need; satisfaction for search functionalities, with five sub-measures (usability of functions of search tool, appropriateness of search results, usability of additional information, usability of associative relations, and appropriateness of search categories); and system convenience in terms of understandability and ease.

Findings

The survey results indicate that all but the satisfaction for appropriateness of search categories showed significant differences between the systems. The interviews show that the RDA system received from the subjects a more positive evaluation compared to the counterpart systems, in search usefulness, search efficiency, general search satisfaction, satisfaction for search functionalities.

Practical implications

Though a few organizations such as the Library of Congress in the USA have implemented RDA, no such endeavors have been undertaken in the context of Korean bibliography, and especially for the systematic validation of usability of such a system from user perspectives.

Originality/value

This is the first published study that validates the usefulness perceived by users of RDA in the context of Korean bibliography.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by Sungkyun Research Fund (S-2013-1441-000), Sungkyunkwan University, 2013.

Citation

Do, S., Oh, S.G. and Lee, S. (2015), "A study on the user evaluation for an RDA-based Korean bibliography retrieval system", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 33 No. 3, pp. 294-309. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-04-2015-0036

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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