Research Workstation Usability Study
April, 1999

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this study. It should take about 20 minutes to complete. Your feedback is extremely helpful as we look for ways to continue improving the Research Workstation.

We will ask you a series of questions -- please tell us which section of the Research Workstation you would consult to find the answer and what you would expect to find in there. This is not a test of your research ability; rather, we are trying to ascertain how people approach and interpret the Research Workstation. For certain questions we may ask you to elaborate or explain your decision in more detail.

The information gathered in this study is confidential and it will be used by the Research Workstation Advisory Board to:

• Understand how people are using the Research Workstation
• Pinpoint problem areas
• Identify ways to improve the research workstation.

Your NAME, Research Workstation Advisory Board.

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PARTICIPANT'S NAME:

TESTER'S NAME:

DATE OF STUDY:

TESTER: Please note the default homepage that the person is using during the study:

_______________________________________________________

1. Have you ever used the Research Workstation before? If yes, please describe your previous use (i.e., what did you use it for, what parts of the Research Workstation did you use?)

PART 1:

For each question, please choose the sections(s) of the research workstation you would consult to find the following information or answer the following questions. You may select more than one item.

TESTER: Please rank the choices (1, 2, 3...) if the person chooses more than one section.

2. Find out how late the Art & Architecture Library is open on Thursdays.

____ Databases and Electronic Journals
____ Library Catalogs: Local and Worldwide
____ Orbis
____ Subject Guides
____ Experimental Projects
____ Library Information
____ Search
____ None of the above/Don't understand the question

OPTIONAL FOLLOWUP: Why did you choose this? What did you expect to find here?

3. Find books on the topic photonics.

[note to tester: if patron is daunted by this topic, reassure them that we picked a topic that we thought would be unfamiliar to everyone.)

____ Databases and Electronic Journals
____ Library Catalogs: Local and Worldwide
____ Orbis
____ Subject Guides
____ Experimental Projects
____ Library Information
____ Search
____ None of the above/Don't understand the question

OPTIONAL FOLLOWUP: Why did you choose this? What did you expect to find here?

4. Find the Oxford English Dictionary online.

____ Databases and Electronic Journals
____ Library Catalogs: Local and Worldwide
____ Orbis
____ Subject Guides
____ Experimental Projects
____ Library Information
____ Search
____ None of the above/Don't understand the question

OPTIONAL FOLLOWUP: Why did you choose this? What did you expect to find here?

5. Find a place where you could get help searching a database (e.g., Orbis or Lexis-Nexis).

____ Databases and Electronic Journals
____ Library Catalogs: Local and Worldwide
____ Orbis
____ Subject Guides
____ Experimental Projects
____ Library Information
____ Search
____ None of the above/Don't understand the question

OPTIONAL FOLLOWUP: Why did you choose this? What did you expect to find here?

6. Find a journal article about photonics.

____ Databases and Electronic Journals
____ Library Catalogs: Local and Worldwide
____ Orbis
____ Subject Guides
____ Experimental Projects
____ Library Information
____ Search
____ None of the above/Don't understand the question

OPTIONAL FOLLOWUP: Why did you choose this? What did you expect to find here?

7. Find where you can place an Interlibrary Loan Request (borrow a book or article that Yale doesn't own).

____ Databases and Electronic Journals
____ Library Catalogs: Local and Worldwide
____ Orbis
____ Subject Guides
____ Experimental Projects
____ Library Information
____ Search
____ None of the above/Don't understand the question

OPTIONAL FOLLOWUP: Why did you choose this? What did you expect to find here?

8. Find a web site or an Internet resource about photonics.

____ Databases and Electronic Journals
____ Library Catalogs: Local and Worldwide
____ Orbis
____ Subject Guides
____ Experimental Projects
____ Library Information
____ Search
____ None of the above/Don't understand the question

OPTIONAL FOLLOWUP: Why did you choose this? What did you expect to find here?

9. Find the list of reserve readings for one of your courses.

____ Databases and Electronic Journals
____ Library Catalogs: Local and Worldwide
____ Orbis
____ Subject Guides
____ Experimental Projects
____ Library Information
____ Search
____ None of the above/Don't understand the question

OPTIONAL FOLLOWUP: Why did you choose this? What did you expect to find here?

10. Does the Library subscribe to the journal Brain and Language? Also, find out if it is available online.

____ Databases and Electronic Journals
____ Library Catalogs: Local and Worldwide
____ Orbis
____ Subject Guides
____ Experimental Projects
____ Library Information
____ Search
____ None of the above/Don't understand the question

OPTIONAL FOLLOWUP: Why did you choose this? What did you expect to find here?

PART 2:

Next, we would like to get some information about you:

1. What is your affiliation?

____ Yale Faculty
____ Yale Graduate Student
____ YaleUndergraduate
____ Yale Staff
____ Other (please elaborate)

2. What is your field of study?

3. Where did you first hear about the Research Workstation (in class, in a library instruction course…?) and how did you learn to use it?

4. Do you have any suggestions for changing and/or improving the Research Workstation?

5. What should not be changed about the Research Workstation?

6. How frequently do you use the Research Workstation?

___ Never ___ Less than once a month ___ 1-5 times a month

___ 1-5 times a week ___ More than 5 times a week

TESTER: Thank the person for taking the time to help us with this usability study.