The effect of spelling and retrieval system familiarity on search behavior in online public access catalogs: A mixed methods study

Abstract

Although technology can often correct spelling errors, the complex tasks of information searching and retrieval in an online public access catalog (OPAC) are made more difficult by these errors in users' input and bibliographic records. This study examines the search behaviors of 38 university students, divided into groups with either easyto-spell or difficult-to-spell search terms, who were asked to find items in the OPAC with these search terms. Search behaviors and strategy use in the OPAC and on the World Wide Web (WWW) were examined. In general, students used familiar Web resources to check their spelling or discover more about the assigned topic. Students with difficult-to-spell search terms checked spelling more often, changed search strategies to look for the general topic and had fewer successful searches. Students unable to find the correct spelling of a search term were unable to complete their search. Students tended to search the OPAC as they would search a search engine, with few search terms or complex search strategies. IntroductionSearching for information is a complex task, particularly for novice searchers. There are numerous, interrelated factors that affect the efficacy of online searches. Some of these factors relate to information retrieval (IR) system design (e.g., Borgman, 1996, discusses access points and technical skills); others relate to search query formulation The ability to spell words correctly is a literacy skill that is essential but nearly invisible. Effective communication skills-from writing a memo, to searching for information in a directory, or sending an e-mail message-rely on appropriate spelling skills. Indeed, many guides to professional communication note the importance of editing skills to ensure that documents are error-free and communicate the intended message to the reader (e.g., Ross & Dewdney, 1998). In online environments, misspellings may lead searchers to miss important information or believe that very little information exists on a given topic. Despite the advent of spell checkers, spelling continues to be an important aspect of online searching as spell checkers may not recognize mistakes or may make incorrect spelling suggestions. In searching OPACs, spelling is especially important to consider in assessing users' searching skills, as most systems do not include spell-checking functions, leaving many misspellings to go unnoticed. Unfortunately, spelling is not often studied in examinations of effective IR strategies. In the field of library and information studies (LIS), spelling in OPAC searching has been examined primarily to determine the number of bibliographic records that contain typographical errors (e.g., Beall & Kafadar, 2007;Randall, 1999) improper search syntax, rather than a more substantive user issue (e.g., Yee, 1991). When spelling has been examined in studies of users' searching behaviors, this has typically occurred through transaction log analysis of OPAC searches that examine the frequency of misspellings (e.g., Blecic, Dorsch, Koenig, ...

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