Efficiency of Information Retrieval from the Electronic and the Printed Versions of a Bilingual Dictionary

Abstract

This paper reports on a study that compared electronic and printed dictionaries in terms of empirical and perceived efficiency of meaning and example retrieval. Seventy-seven university students took a speed test that measured efficiency with which word meanings (Part 1) and examples (Part 2) were accessed. The participants used electronic or printed versions of the same English-Japanese dictionary. A post-experiment survey explored participants' perception of the two dictionary types. Participants' pre-experiment familiarity with electronic and printed dictionaries was also examined. Multiple regression models were fit in search of meaningful ':v.. relationships between the variables. The results indicated that (1) in identifYing word meanings, e-dictionaries were markedly more efficient; (2) this advantage was multiplied by the users/familiarity with e-dictionaries; (3) in accessing examples, there was no significant difference between the two dictionary types; and (4) participants overwhelmingly preferred e-dictionaries. The paper concludes with an argument that in light ofmuch less degree ofreluctance to use e-dictionaries, the electronic-printed gap in real-life use frequency is expected to be larger than was observed by the speed test in this study.