Starting a search: Exploring the differences in two digital libraries. Issue 1 (22nd October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kuhar, Maja; Merčun, Tanja
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology. Volume 57:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-10-22
• Subjects: digital library -- eye tracking -- first click -- user interface -- user study; Information science -- Congresses; Information technology -- Congresses; Information science; Information technology; Conference papers and proceedings; 020
• DOI: 10.1002/pra2.341
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2373-9231

Abstract

Abstract: We conducted an eye‐tracking study in two digital libraries to examine how users orientate themselves on the digital library homepages, how fast and by which actions they initiate the search process. Results showed that participants typically started their task by querying. However, there were some differences in the elements they fixated on first, the way they started the search and the time they needed to orient on the page. These differences seem to have been caused by the homepage layout, especially by the search box position. This shows eye‐tracking can be used to examine first actions in digital libraries and could be useful for designing better interfaces.