Performance and usability testing of multidimensional taxonomy in web site search and navigation

Abstract

Purpose -Development of an effective search system and interface largely depends on usability studies. The aim of this paper is to present the results of an empirical evaluation of a prototype web site search and browsing tool based on multidimensional taxonomies derived from the use of faceted classification. Design/methodology/approach -A prototype Faceted Classification System (FCS), which classifies and organizes web documents under different facets (orthogonal sets of categories), was implemented on the domain of an academic institute. Facet are created from content oriented metadata, and then assembled into multiple taxonomies that describe alternative classifications of the web site content, such as by subject and location. The search and browsing interfaces use these taxonomies to enable users to access information in multiple ways. The paper compares the FCS interfaces to the existing single-classification system to evaluate the usability of the facets in typical navigation and searching tasks. Findings -The findings suggest that performance and usability are significantly better with the FCS in the areas of efficient access, search success, flexibility, understanding of content, relevant search result, and satisfaction. These results are especially promising since unfamiliarity often leads users to reject new search interfaces. Originality/value -The results of the study in this paper can significantly contribute to interface research in the IR community, emphasizing the advantages of multidimensional taxonomies in online information collections.

Usability Studies of Faceted Browsing: A Literature Review

“…Libraries had either implemented a new product, or they were thinking about Uddin and Janacek asked nineteen users (staff and students at the Asian Institute of Technology) to use a website search engine with both a traditional results list and a faceted results list. 22 Tasks were as follows: (1) look for scholarship information for a masters program, (2) look for staff recruitment information, and (3) look for research and associated faculty member information within your interested area. 23 They found that users were faster when using the faceted system, significantly so for two of the three tasks.…”

Visual Search in Digital Libraries and the Usage of External Terms

“…The hierarchical navigation through the Simple Knowledge Organization System Reference -SKOS modelling scheme, inside a DL, is a crucial operation in terms of narrowing the obtained results [2], [10]- [12]. However, browsing the taxonomic levels increases the complexity of the interactivity and usability of any search interface [13].…”