1996 Survey of User Information Needs and Search Methods Results

3.3.2a) Approach to Information Searching

Respondents were asked assign a score, on a scale of 1 to 4, to a number of approaches to information searching, where 4 was `Very useful' and 1 was `No use at all'. The following tables identify those approaches which scored well and those which were reported to be of no use.

Table : Comparison of Useful Approaches to Information Searching

Approach to Information Searching	Number of respondents who classified approach as very useful or useful	Percentage of total respondents who classified approach as very useful or useful	Ranking
Subject	648	91%	1
Author	555	78%	2
Physical location	290	41%	4
Keyword	551	78%	2
Resource Type	231	33%	5

Table : Comparison of Approaches to Information Searching which were classified as `No Use At All'

Approach to Information Searching	Number of respondents who classified approach as no use at all	Percentage of total respondents who classified approach as no use at all	Ranking
Subject	9	1%	5
Author	18	3%	4
Physical location	92	13%	2
Keyword	36	5%	3
Resource Type	129	18%	1

The results at both ends of the spectrum indicate that Subject is the most favoured approach, with Physical Location and Resource Type being least favoured.

3.3.2b) Use of Classification Systems

Respondents were asked to indicate which of a number of classification systems they found useful.

Table : Comparison of Usage of Classification Systems

Use of Classification System	Number of respondents who indicated that the system was useful	Percentage of total respondents who indicated that the system was useful	Ranking
Dewey Decimal	332	47%	1
Adapted Dewey Decimal	95	13%	2
Library of Congress(LC)	94	13%	2
Universal Decimal (UDC)	60	8%	4
In-house/adapted system	13	2%	6
Other	59	8%	4

The Dewey Decimal system was selected by almost 50% of respondents. All other Classification systems were selected by less than 14%.

3.3.2c) Reliance on Others to Carry Out Information Searches

38% of total respondents indicated that they use another person to carry out information searches. Of those, less than a quarter used another person very frequently or frequently.

Table showing Number of Respondents by Role/Function
who use another person to search for information

Category	Number	% of total respondents
Teaching/ Research	82	38%
Students	9	17%
Librarians	64	35%
Museum Curators	15	32%
Practitioners	53	50%
Other	50	47%
All	273	38%

The group who reported the greatest use of another person for searching were Practitioners, with Students reporting the lowest use at only 17%.

3.3.2d) Use of Thesaurus

41% of total respondents indicated that they use a thesaurus as an aid to information searching.

Table showing Number of Respondents by Role/Function
who use a Thesaurus as an aid to information searching

Category	Number	% of total respondents
Teaching/ Research	81	38%
Students	18	35%
Librarians	102	55%
Museum Curators	18	38%
Practitioners	31	29%
Other	39	37%
All	289	41%

The group who reported the greatest use of a Thesaurus were Librarians, with Practitioners reporting the lowest use at 29%.

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