In the modern world, which has become a multi-device environment, the ways of providing information services are expanding due to the development of technology. In the academic library environment, digital services using the web have already been popu...
In the modern world, which has become a multi-device environment, the ways of providing information services are expanding due to the development of technology. In the academic library environment, digital services using the web have already been popularized. In addition, various studies show that digital services provided in various ways, such as mobile apps, kiosks, and smart devices, are also spreading. Due to the emergence and introduction of these various devices, the environment for providing and using digital services in academic libraries is changing rapidly; therefore, exploring ways to respond to the changing environment is necessary. One of the strategies to improve user satisfaction in an environment where one information service is available on various types of digital devices is to provide a continuous user experience through a consistent interface.
To ensure the continuity in user experience, maintaining consistency in the words or phrases used to express service function names could be considered. It is effective to provide function names composed of words or phrases consistently
across all devices because textual interface elements with a language system are
easier to apply consistently in various device environments than other interface elements. Therefore, this study focused on the expression of service function names, which is a basic element of digital services and a factor that can provide a consistent user experience in a multi-device environment.
This study aimed to systematize the function search process according to the
function name expressions of academic library digital services by exploring the possibility of typing the function name expressions of digital services and deriving the main factors that can affect the function search process of digital services.
The study focused on the micro area, the "function search process based on users' perceptions of function name expressions," and derived results using exploratory methods. The study is significant in verifying the possibility of typing functional name expressions based on actual academic library digital services. The
function categorization process derived a comprehensive function structure capable of encompassing domestic academic libraries' digital services. Subsequent to the typology and categorization outcomes, a virtual academic library digital service was directly implemented, and usability tests were conducted. The results of the
tests were subjected to statistical analysis and grounded theory-based qualitative analysis to derive and systematize the main factors and conditions and propose a theoretical model.
The research process was conducted in the following order: literature review, case study of function names of academic library digital services, classification of function name expression types, categorization of functions, implementation of virtual academic library digital services, usability test, and analysis of results.
Informed by the insights from the literature review, theoretical reviews were undertaken concerning academic library digital services, user experience, and the impact of function name expressions on user experience. Based on this, research
questions were set and the case study/test design and research subjects were selected. Through the case study of the function names of academic library digital services, the number of research subjects was determined to be 40 academic libraries, and the functions provided by the digital services of domestic academic libraries were comprehensively summarized. The analysis of 2,321 function names
from digital services offered by domestic academic libraries confirmed that the service function names can be classified into three distinct types. Function categorization was conducted to analyze and synthesize 230 upper categories, 182 middle categories, and 1,658 lower categories identified during the case study of function names to derive a function structure encompassing universal digital
services in domestic academic libraries. Based on the results of function name expression typology and function categorization, virtual academic library digital services were implemented. In this study, each of the three function name expression types (subject-only expression, action-only expression, and subject and action-inclusive expression) was implemented as a unified virtual digital service with one expression type; thus, three virtual digital services were utilized for the usability test. In the concluding phase, a usability test involving 20 participants
was administered to solicit and compile user evaluations and opinions. Each
participant evaluated the three virtual digital services by performing five tasks, responding to questions, and expressing free opinions. Statistical analysis was conducted to verify differences in ease of use by type of function name and task.
The usability test results were analyzed using grounded theory research methods to identify factors and conditions that affect the function search process, focusing
on the function name expressions. Based on these results, the study proposes a theoretical model that shows the relationship between factors and conditions and the flow of the function search process. The main research findings are summarized as follows.
First, the expressions of function names of academic library digital services were typed into "subject-only expression," "action-only expression," and "subject and action-inclusive expression," with a focus on actions. A "subject-only expression" refers to a type of expression that consists only of expressions about the subject of the function, not including expressions about actions. An
"action-only expression" refers to an expression type consisting only of a word or phrase expressing actions. A "subject and action-inclusive expression" refers to an expression type that includes both the subject and action of a function. When the
names of the actual digital service functions selected from Korean academic
libraries for the case study were classified by type through cross-coding. 1,378
"subject-only expressions," 165 "action-only expressions," and 778 "subject and action-inclusive expressions" could be classified, thus securing the validity of the
typology of function name expressions by the three expressions.
Second, the function categorization process derived a function structure of
academic library digital services consisting of five upper categories, 17 middle categories, and 125 lower categories. Since there were many cases where different names expressed the same function, the most frequently used name was taken as the representative name, and all other names were combined into the representative name. Conversely, there were also cases where the same name
represented different functions. In such cases, a thorough examination of the actual function corresponding to each name was conducted, leading to a reclassification to consolidate it under a suitable representative name. In some cases, a particular category was associated with two or more higher-level categories, but in this function structure, only one of the most relevant categories was organized. This systematic process derived a digital service function structure poised for comprehensive applicability to Korean academic libraries.
Third, a virtual academic library digital service was implemented, anchored in the function name expressions and the function structure derived in this study.
This virtual service was employed as a tool for usability tests, gauging the user experience as participants engaged with the function search process. During the usability test, participants evaluated five tasks in the virtual academic library digital service implemented by three types of function name expressions.
Therefore, directly comparing results by function name expression and task was possible. The statistical analysis of the test results verified that there were
significant differences in the degree of ease of service use by function name
expression and task.
Fourth, by identifying and systematizing the main factors affecting the process of users' use of academic library digital services, a model of academic library digital service function search process based on function name expressions was
proposed. The main factors and conditions were derived through a qualitative
analysis based on the grounded theory methodology. As a condition that has a major impact on the search process, the factor of inherent search priority was presented. Inherent search priority refers to the tendency of users to prioritize
subjects or actions in the process of searching functions according to their
inherent preferences, and it was verified through usability tests that there is basically an inherent priority for users. It was also found that some users utilize
different strategies when searching for functions in general digital services versus academic library digital services, depending on their tendencies. Understanding of concepts and expressions, daily experience-based search strategies, and expression length preferences were found to directly influence the process of determining and modifying users' search strategies for specific functions. While users are attempting to search for a function, they make judgments based on the strategy they have decided on, with a successful search using the initial strategy being perceived as having the most ease of use and the ease of use decreasing as the
number of search attempts increases. If users are unsuccessful in the search function process, they can change their search strategy, inferring from similar words and concepts or changing the focused concept. The search flow suggested by the model also explains that users experience the lowest ease of use as they switch to random search attempts in the event of repeated failures or
abandonment of intentional search. One of the achievements of this study is that
the model of the function search process of academic library digital services based
on function name expression captures the flow of function search behavior and
specifies the user's function search process that can be missed by considering it
as an accidental or random act.
This study has significance in identifying differences in ease of use according to the expressions of function names of digital services in academic libraries.
Additionally, it contributes by systematizing the flow of users' searching behavior and the factors underlying strategy judgments that vary by function name
expression in the process of function search. Through the identification and
substantiation of the assertion that the function search process is not merely intuitive but is intricately influenced by a myriad of factors and conditions, thus prompting shifts in user behavior, this research broadens the scholarly focus on user search behavior into the micro-cognitive domain. Additionally, the study revealed that the fewer the number of search attempts in the process of searching for a function, the more convenient it is to use. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the factors that cause search failure in terms of service provision. This study was also successful in specifying the impact of function name expression on users' function search process, which is a factor that academic libraries can focus on to respond to the rapidly changing digital environment and provide users with a consistent experience. In light of these findings, the development and operation of academic library digital services can be optimized by closely identifying and responding to users' tendencies aligning with the factors presented in this function search process model. Such meticulous consideration has the potential to yield user-friendly and customized digital services adaptable to diverse device environments.