The importance conducting user research so as to better understand your users.

1. Meeting users
where they are
Kate Lawrence, EBSCO User Research @bykatelawrence

2. Our Portfolio
“I don’t speak
library-ese.”

3. EBSCO’s 2015 Library-Ese Study
Lead Researcher: Khalilah Gambrell
208 Students
57%
Public
30%
Private
13%
Community

4. 60% - Intermediate Researcher 33% Novice
Start papers halfway between assignment date & due date.

5. Research
It’d about guided
self-serve. Because
remember, it’s midnight.
Research is done close to
midnight. 11pm typical
peak hour.
Research roadblock?
Friend or roommate.
Whoever is sitting next to
me on the couch.
From the couch. At home.
With the doorbell ringing and
the tv on and the dog
barking.
CouchLate
FriendsSelf-Serve
The reality of student research

6. Worry,
anxiety
Presearch*:
Google
Presearch*:
Wikipedia
Then,
“Serious
Research”*
Search & gather first: “Consider the specific aspects of the topic that I
might want to write on, then find research that either confirms my
hypothesis or changes my mind about my paper angle.“
The Process
First stop worry; then Google
*Source: "Finding Context: What Today's College Student Say about Conducting Research in the Digital Age," Alison J. Head and Michael B.
Eisenberg, Project Information Literacy Progress Report, University of Washington's Information School, February 4, 2009

7. Basic Search
“Because it is easy & fast”
“Great for when you are not
sure what you are looking for.”
“Gives a wide range of
information on a general set of
keywords.”

8. 88% of surveyed
students call this
section “filters”.

9. High-comprehension terms
Abstract
PDF
Peer-
reviewed
Primary
source
Interlibrary
Loan

10. Lower-comprehension terms
database

11. What’s next from EBSCO User Research:
Middle & high school study, full text links best practices,
faculty study, paper on librarian-teacher active partnership

12. Be in touch
@bykatelawrence
klawrence@ebsco.com