Correlations between users' characteristics and preferred features of Web-based OPAC evaluation

This paper examines the correlations between user characteristics and their preferences for two selected features of Web-based OPAC systems. User characteristics identified in this study were age, gender, educational status, computer skills and OPAC experience. Usability features included interaction styles, character and image on screen, browsing and navigating style, screen layout, and ease of learning, whereas availability features attended to availability of information, quality of information and up-to-date information. Individual variables and features are described, and the correlation between the variables and the features are explored using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). Although based on a small-scale sample survey, a considerably large number of statistically significant correlations were found between the users' characteristics and the selected evaluation features of interactive Web-based OPACs. From these observations, it seems to be suitable to recommend that system designers should make a more considered appraisal of the users' demographic characteristics in the design of the new generation of OPAC such as in user-tailored interactive Web-based OPAC systems.