Measuring service quality in higher education: three instruments compared

Measuring the quality of service in higher education is increasingly important, particularly as fees introduce a more consumerist ethic amongst students. This paper aims to test and compare the relative efficacy of three measuring instruments of service quality (namely HEdPERF, SERVPERF and the moderating scale of HEdPERF‐SERVPERF) within a higher education setting. The objective was to determine which instrument had the superior measuring capability in terms of unidimensionality, reliability, validity and explained variance. Tests were conducted utilizing a sample of higher education students, and the findings indicated that HEdPERF scale resulted in more reliable estimations, greater criterion and construct validity, greater explained variance, and consequently was a better fit than the other two instruments. Consequently, a modified five‐factor structure of HEdPERF is put forward as the more superior scale for the higher education sector.     

A survey of Internet access and usage among undergraduates in an African university

Abstract

The study surveyed the use of Internet among undergraduate students at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. A total of 1000 questionnaires were distributed using a stratified sampling method to select the respondents. Ten faculties were covered. A total of 664 questionnaires were returned and all were usable. The findings revealed a high percentage use of the Internet. The access point for them is cyber cafes. The university library though linked to the Internet is yet to provide access to students. Respondents pay for the access time through their pocket money for food, books and assistance from friends. Their use of the Internet has not affected their use of the library. Some problems they face in their use of the Internet include slowness of the server and payment for the access time. The study recommends that the university should provide access points for students. The university library also should continue to aim at ensuring that it gets enough funds from the government and sponsors to be able to provide access points in the library for use by students and include the use of Internet in its library instruction course.     

图书馆如何正确开展读者满意度调查

读者满意度调查日益成为图书馆的一项基本工作。分析当前读者满意度调查过程中存在的问题,提出正确开展读者满意度调查需遵循的工作程序,以及需要把握的几个关键点。     

现阶段我国高校移动图书馆服务调查探析——以“211工程”院校图书馆为例

通过对“211工程”院校移动图书馆服务的调查,从高校移动图书馆服务模式由单一向多元化发展,服务内容向多样化发展,试开通区域广泛化及移动图书馆的开通方式呈现多样化等方面,说明现阶段我国高校对移动图书馆建设越来越重视。对今后建设移动图书馆服务从建立移动数字图书馆联盟,构建移动学习平台和联合移动参考咨询,加强高校移动图书馆服务宣传等方面进行思考与展望。参考文献8。     

大学生数字化阅读倾向的调查分析与对策研究

以数字化阅读的涵义与特征为出发点,深入调查分析了大学生数字化阅读的现状与倾向,指出了大学生数字化阅读倾向的形成原因及突出问题,进而提出了提高大学生数字化阅读质量的策略方法。     

Cover Me,I’m going in: Exploring the needs of student veterans

Abstract

The number of military veterans taking advantage of post-911 educational benefits has increased significantly, and institutions of higher education have responded by creating veteran-friendly campuses. Accordingly, academic librarians have engaged in proactive, ongoing conversations about providing services to this unique student population. The authors went on reconnaissance to assess the needs of student veterans and their response to a recently created veterans lounge space in the library. The information gathered from this survey can help provide insight and possible strategies to improve library outreach and services.     

Interlibrary Loan Satisfaction Survey at the University of Evansville

The University of Evansville Libraries conducted an assessment to determine if interlibrary loan users were satisfied with the service. Patrons completed a survey online that gauged their levels of satisfaction with nine components of the University of Evansville Libraries’ interlibrary loan service. Overall, patrons were very satisfied with the service but offered concrete ways to improve the interlibrary loan experience, which were then implemented.     

Bringing in the users: The role for usability evaluation in eGovernment

During the last decade, various types of eGovernment evaluations have been proposed. These evaluations have primarily focused on international benchmarking using supply side metrics. Demand for eGovernment has been largely ignored. Recently, this oversight has been recognised, but research in this area is still in its infancy. This paper proposes the use of an already established usability literature from computer science. Advantages of applying usability methods to eGovernment include recognising barriers to use, identifying future development priorities and using already existing methods to assess and compare online offerings. Importantly, the inclusion of and focus on real users also fits with the wider government ideals of greater public participation and strengthening democracy.     

Factors affecting the adoption of social network sites: examining four adopter categories of Singapore's working adults

Adapted from Chang et al.'s (2006) models, this study examines factors that influence adoption and non-adoption of social network sites (SNS) in adopters (Continuers, Discontinuers) and non-adopters (Potentials, Resistors). Chi-square and t-test were used to analyze the survey data of Singapore's working adults and Internet users (N =222). The findings reveal innovation characteristics (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity) and perceived popularity differ significantly in three pairs of adopter categories. Results show Continuers and Potentials are concerned more about image than Discontinuers and Resistors, while technology cluster differs between adopter vs. non-adopter and Continuers vs. Discontinuers. Moreover, the study suggests younger people tend to adopt SNSs, females continue to use SNSs more, and potential SNS users are more innovative. Lastly, a regression model to forecast the adoption of SNSs is proposed in which age, compatibility, technology cluster, and perceived popularity are predictors.     

Competition and the decline in Western television program popularity in Indonesia during the 1990s

Despite the country's population base of 240 million, Indonesian television has not been widely explored in academic and professional venues. This paper examines the impact of competition on the popularity of foreign programs in the Indonesian market during the mid-1990s. Analyzing recently released ratings data from a television ratings service, this paper suggests that competition has given rise to the popularity of local programs, while foreign program popularity has declined steeply during the same three year period. The findings also suggest that cultural proximity is a factor of the popularity of programs. By 1997, Asian programs outnumbered Western programs on the top 100 highest rated program lists in Indonesia. We explore implications of study findings for filling this void in the literature.