| Abstract: | ABSTRACT This study evaluates the usability of the Journal Finder integrated search interface, developed at the Jackson Library at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This interface provides electronic access to publications including journals, newsletters, newspapers, and magazines. This study was conducted to determine how intuitive and learnable the interface is for accessing online publications. The participants consist of four user subgroups: undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and faculty. The study evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of the interface to support the participants' tasks of accessing online publications by using pretest questionnaires, task-analysis techniques, think-aloud protocol, scenarios, and post-test questionnaires. This study also evaluates the Journal Finder online tutorial. The study finds that the Journal Finder interface is easy to use, simple to learn, efficient, and effective for all subgroups. The effectiveness error rate and efficiency-time-to-completion measurement is comparable for all four subgroups in completing their tasks. The areas recommended for improvement to enhance the intuitiveness of the Journal Finder interface are the understandability of the navigational features, icons, and terminology and the creation of an easy-to-understand online tutorial. This study is novel because it examines the efficiency and effectiveness of the interface to facilitate access to electronic publications for not only students but also for faculty and staff. |
