Discusses semantic communication networks, methods of content analysis, and voice mail as a communication system. A study that examined conceptual distinctions between voice mail answering and voice mail messaging in a large insurance organization is described, and semantic network analysis is compared to traditional content analysis. (28…

Describes a study that assessed social styles (i.e., preferred work environment and preferred use of time) and sustained library use (i.e., amount of work completed in the library) to learn more about the interaction between the library and the user. A significant relationship between social style and library use is reported. (seven references)…

Description of a research study that empirically investigated book index usage behaviors and the extent to which specific print index features affect a user's search for information highlights observable behaviors of a sample of users when consulting different variations of a hard copy book index. (Contains 12 references.) (LRW)

Describes a pilot study to help develop instruments appropriate for a full-scale assessment of the Blacksburg, Virginia, community network. A brief overview of the methods employed in the pilot evaluation is given. The results of focus group interviews, lessons learned, and future plans are presented. The 17-item focus group questionnaire is…

Describes a qualitative study conducted with graduate students at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) to describe patterns of computer-mediated communication (CMC) usage and to explore alternative ways of describing users of communication systems. Patterns of CMC usage are described, and dynamics of online communication are…

Seven articles discuss aspects of transaction log analysis, including introduction and definitions; history and development; components of an ideal logging facility; research methodologies; applications to a variety of library functions; practical and logical limits of the methodology; and future developments needed to enhance successful use of…

Discussion of the use of academic libraries by external users focuses on a study that investigated how libraries deal with local business people as external users. Literature on external access to academic libraries is reviewed, and fee-based information services are considered. (42 references) (LRW)

Outlines methods that the Florida Center for Library Automation (FCLA) has developed to estimate transaction costs and overall demand for NOTIS services. Transaction resource usage analysis is discussed, record structures are explained, institution collection size is considered, and usage and response time by hour of day is described. (six…

Describes the formative evaluation of a multimedia computer system that provides remedial support for university students learning concepts concerning the structure and function of the human brain and describes usability studies of the system using the Software Usability Measurement Inventory (SUMI). Analysis of SUMI items and the student…

Describes a study that established a measure and model for use in predicting and explaining electronic mail systems as an example of computer-mediated communication technologies usage and choice. The results indicated that all of the eight hypotheses showed significant correlation between criterion and predictor variates, supported by different…

A survey of 516 family members examined assistive-technology use by students with mental retardation. Findings indicate that the number of students who could benefit from devices but did not have access to them exceeded the number who actually had devices. Barriers to device utilization are discussed. (Author/CR)

Shows that Web-based materials enhanced teaching and learning in an introductory operations-management course. Suggests guidelines for implementing such a course: understanding why students visit the Web site, timing the availability of materials to match usage patterns, and providing information in appropriate detail and format. Shows that the…

Presents questions for evaluating a media center's reference section, focused on types of resources; reference-material evaluation criteria and items that belong in or are misplaced in the reference section; relocating materials and ensuring use of newly classified materials; and how to collect data on usage of resources. (AEF)

Discusses the PCs for Families experiment, a longitudinal quantitative and ethnographic study of networked computing in the fifth-grade classroom examining how networked computing affects students' educational achievements, attitude and professional development of teachers and support instructors, and how families support students and react to the…

Examines implications of undergraduate students' patronage of Barnes & Noble bookstores instead of libraries. Students' reasons for preferring Barnes & Noble included the atmosphere; more materials and easier access; more convenient hours; and organization of materials that is easy to understand. (AEF)