Att sätta arkivanvändarna i fokus : Ett UX-perspektiv på informationssökning i digitala arkiv

Sammanfattning

An increasing number of archive users are using digital archives to access archive materials. Yet the user experience of web users has remained understudied in comparison with the library- and information science. The purpose of this study is to identify what affects the user experience of users who search for information in digital archives. The study uses activity theory originally developed by Lev Vygotsky as its theoretical framework. His activity model is complemented by Anneli Sundqvist’s activity model of the information behaviour of users of records as well as Carol Kuhlthau’s idea about the zone of intervention. The method is a user experience testing of four Swedish digital archives. Ten users were given eight tasks to solve by using the digital archives. Subsequently, they were interviewed about their experience through semi-structured interviews. The tests were screen- and sound-recorded. Thematic analysis was applied to the material. Three themes emerged from the thematic analysis: the search function, navigation and perception of the archive. Regarding the search function users noted the importance of having the right search term strategy, they preferred fewer search options, liked short search result lists, did not frequently use search guides, preferred relevant over exact search functions and appreciated options to filter search results. Regarding navigation users found many of the displays overwhelming, dense in information and hard to navigate without much prior archival experience. Clear visual and structural tools helped them navigate. Regarding perception of the archive, users thought it exciting to view historical source material although using the archives could be frustrating and confusing. Research, studies and family research were thought to be the most common uses for the digital archives. This is a two years master’s thesis in Archival Science.