Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss user consultation behaviour on the basis of eye-tracking data and interview data. To date the focus has been almost exclusively on the use of log files in Internet lexicography – an approach which is questioned in this article. The paper is based on empirical data from an exploratory eye-tracking study of the user consultation behaviour of six participants and on interview data from a follow-up post-study interview of the participants. The paper elucidates and discusses the consultation behaviour in Internet lexicography and shows not only at what the participants looked, but also how they accessed lexicographic data. The paper presents a suitable method for using eye-tracking studies in Internet lexicography and advocates an increased use of this method to produce empirical data upon which additional theoretical considerations on the information and data access process can be developed. Finally, the implications for further research in user consultation behaviour are briefly explored.
Highlights
The purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss user consultation behaviour on the basis of eye-tracking data and interview data
The user’s behaviour is logged and tabulated in automatic, server-generated log files, and this technology has no doubt contributed to theory development and user-prompted update and revision of the content of the dictionaries in question, cf. for example De Schryver/Joffe (2004), Bergenholtz/Johnsen (2005), De Schryver et al (2006), Bergenholtz /Johnsen (2007), Hult (2008) and Almind (2008), who all make a strong case for the use of log files in internet lexicography
It is argued that eye-tracking studies in Internet lexicography are important in the ongoing development of theoretical considerations on information and data access in lexicography, because eye-tracking data may help us gain insight into what users are looking for, how they access data in specific situations and to what extent the user profile plays a role in user consultation behaviour
Summary
The purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss user consultation behaviour on the basis of eye-tracking data and interview data. The paper presents a suitable method for using eye-tracking studies in Internet lexicography and advocates an increased use of this method to produce empirical data upon which additional theoretical considerations on the information and data access process can be developed. The user’s behaviour (key strokes and mouse clicks) is logged and tabulated in automatic, server-generated log files, and this technology has no doubt contributed to theory development and user-prompted update and revision of the content of the dictionaries in question, cf for example De Schryver/Joffe (2004), Bergenholtz/Johnsen (2005), De Schryver et al (2006), Bergenholtz /Johnsen (2007), Hult (2008) and Almind (2008), who all make a strong case for the use of log files in internet lexicography. The eye-tracking method proposed in this article is suitable for the study of the user consultation behaviour in connection with the use of an internet dictionary, and it can be used to learn more about what the user looks at, and how his eyes move and fixate during for example search operations and processing operations. It is argued that eye-tracking studies in Internet lexicography are important in the ongoing development of theoretical considerations on information and data access in lexicography, because eye-tracking data may help us gain insight into what users are looking for, how they access data in specific situations and to what extent the user profile plays a role in user consultation behaviour
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