OPAC usability: assessment through verbal protocol

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how participants have interacted during the execution of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) searches, and whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied or confused.

Design/methodology/approach

This is based on a sample of 18 OPAC users of the British Council Library in Kolkata.

Findings

While implementing the verbal protocol method this study has developed a scheme of coding with the help of which the protocol data were analysed and proposed a generic model of online catalogue searching process flow. It is suggested that the method has a great potential in library and information science research.

Originality/value

The paper suggests that the method has a great potential in library and information science research.

Citation

Guha, T.K. and Saraf, V. (2005), "OPAC usability: assessment through verbal protocol", The Electronic Library, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 463-473. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470510611526