End‐user searching at Cranfield University

Abstract

Cranfield University Library has a tradition of matching technological developments to user needs, but it is important to ensure that a move from mediated to end‐user searching does not have a detrimental effect on the quality of the results. This study was designed to evaluate methodologies to measure end‐user searching effectiveness. Questionnaires, observation, search strategy analysis and interviews were employed, using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Results are presented, which demonstrate that a librarian can perform searches of greater complexity and comprehensiveness than research students. The main emphasis is on the critical examination of methodologies, which finds that methodological pluralism and triangulation can increase validity and reliability provided that care is taken when deciding on a sample.

Citation

Bains, S. (1998), "End‐user searching at Cranfield University", New Library World, Vol. 99 No. 1, pp. 31-40. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074809810196716