Use Of Web Portals Research Articles

Why do we use different types of websites and assign them different levels of credibility? Structural relations among users' motives, types of websites, information credibility, and trust in the press

The phenomenal growth in the use of the Internet as an information source has raised questions among scholars about why and how individuals use this resource. Based on uses and gratifications theory, the current study explored structural relations among individuals' specific motivations for using the Internet, their specific use of the web, credibility perceptions of online information and trust in the press using structural equation modeling method (N = 996). Consistent with our predictions, the distinct motivations (i.e., information seeking, social utility, and entertainment) were associated with the use of web portals, news websites, and social networking sites, respectively. Our findings also indicated that the use of news websites particularly influences users' perceptions of the credibility of online information as well as trust in the press. Furthermore, a significant association between credibility perceptions of online information and trust in the press was revealed. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Testing the impact of an information literacy course: Undergraduates' perceptions and use of the university libraries' web portal

Numerous sources have observed that undergraduates tend to use Internet search engines, predominantly Google, instead of library electronic resources for their course work. Thus, academic librarians have expressed concern about the under-utilization of resources provided through library Web portals. Studies of technology acceptance and success indicate that user training can positively influence individuals' use of information systems. Even so, there has been no investigation of the longterm effects of user education on the use of library Web portals. This longitudinal study fills this gap in the literature by determining whether a semester-long, credit-bearing, general education course integrated with an information literacy component positively alters undergraduate students' perceptions and increases their use of the university libraries' web portal at a mid-size research institution. A mixed methods approach was employed, collecting data through three rounds of survey (pre-course, post-course, and follow-up) as well as one-on-one interviews. Results from the quantitative analysis indicated variance in participants' perceptions and use of the libraries' portal from the short-term to a longer term. The positive influence of the course was validated through a manipulation check. The outcome of interviews also confirmed the findings derived from the quantitative data.

Routinisation of informed consent in online health care systems

ObjectivesTo investigate (1) the extent to which informed consent is routinised, i.e., given habitually and without reflection, in relation to the use of web-portals containing personal health information, and (2) the reasons given by users for routinised and non-routinised consent behaviour. DesignAnonymous web-questionnaire among users of the official Danish health information web-portal, Sundhed.dk. SettingSundhed.dk allows Danish residents access to their electronic patient records and other personal health information and allows them to update some of this information. Use of the portal requires explicit consent to the terms and conditions of use and the data protection policies of the site. Main outcome measuresDegree to which information materials are read before use of the portal.Reasons given for reading or not reading materials. ResultSeventy-nine percent of respondents read half or less of the information materials before using the portal. The main reasons given for not reading (all) of the materials relate to the length of the materials, the frequency of having to read such things, and the perception that use of the portal is ‘low risk’. The reasons given for reading and not reading indicate that the consent process is routinised. ConclusionsMost users of Sundhed.dk do not provide informed consent before using the portal, since most do not read the information fully.The reasons given for not reading strongly supports the idea that consent has become a routinised behaviour in this context.This finding is important because web-portals offering access to personal health information held by the health care system are becoming ever more frequent.

Designing Mobile Application for the Over the Counter Drug Marketing

The increased usage of mobile apps has a great potential in Pharmacy market. Through the use of mobile apps, web portals and social media may allow a fast and wide diffusion of awareness for over the counter (OTC) drugs and attract a large number of customers, thus increasing the value of searching for information, quality and lower costs of the purchase. The goal of this paper is to identify the key factors as antecedents of customer satisfaction for the design of a mobile app for OTC drug marketing. To this aim, the authors use the Kano model that allows categorizing service attributes according to how they are perceived by customers and estimating their impact on customer satisfaction. This model is adopted in order to identify, express and latent needs of customers and to design a mobile app for OTC marketing according to their perceptions and expectations. To apply the Kano model, the authors used quantitative data collected through 537 questionnaires that were sent to the Slovenian internet users (June and August 2013). The results of this analysis can be relevant to the pharmaceutical companies; drugs vendors and marketing managers plan strategy and operational activities, for pharmaceutical companies in the field of OTC drugs marketing, for application developers, and for all those concerned with OTC drugs marketing issues.

Making the Technological Transition – Citizens' Encounters with Digital Pension Services

AbstractWe examine in this article the impact of digitization on the provision of public services by studying how citizens experience the use of web portals in their pension planning. Based on focus groups and user test material, we elucidate five critical phases that each operate as an obstacle for citizens' further engagement in the digital self‐service process: interest, access, comprehension, reflection and support. We argue that these phases and the obstacles they entail illustrate a transition away from a situation in which control and agency over the quality of public services is embedded in a dyadic relationship between citizens and frontline personnel, and to a situation characterized by more complex relations between citizens, the front line, and the digital infrastructure. We argue that this transition implies that citizens are required to possess a new type of competence that contains both financial and digital skills. Citizens who are unable to develop or acquire such competence are likely to be disadvantaged by the services. Lastly, we argue that these developments pose significant challenges for public administrations to ensure the overall quality of the public services.

Revisiting Marketing Strategies for MSMEs in the Resilient Business Environment

The growth of medium, small, and micro enterprises has been the most significant feature of a planned economy. It has a unique advantage of providing high rate of employment opportunities with lesser capital investment. The MSMEs consider the design, development, branding, and positioning of the product as the most critical decision amongst all the strategic decisions to be made while designing marketing strategies. This paper attempted to investigate the influence of marketing strategies in determining the success of an enterprise while exploring market avenues for a small scale firm. The study is based on primary data collected by using a structured questionnaire. Various statistical tools like mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, chi-square, correlation, and factor analysis had been used for data analysis. Analysis of various factors influencing the internal and external business environment suggest that market aesthetics and its market demand were the most decisive factors which influenced the decision of entrepreneurs. Henceforth, it could be summated that while designing the marketing strategies for a firm, the MSMEs made an assessment of various market factors. However, the industry requires constant upgradation of information regarding the use of newer production technology and market requirements for survival in the market and for facing the global pressures. It is suggested that the entrepreneurs should recognize the use of web portals and e-marketing and also develop cartel and clusters to build the requisite infrastructural and operational facilities to come at par with international standards.

Student Acceptance of University Web Portals

A large number of university web portal's content and design do not meet today's students' expectations and requirements. To address students' expectations, universities spend millions on the redesign and maintenance of their web portals which students say are inadequate and lack basic services. To this end, this study explored the factors that influence students' acceptance of university web portals. It proposed an extension of Davis's (1989) Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by adding three user related external constructs in it. A total of 429 usable responses were collected from university students through a web survey. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results of the study revealed that website quality, perceived self-efficacy, and facilitating conditions were significant in explaining students' use of university web portals and therefore, indicated that the extended TAM has sufficient explanatory power to explain students' usage of university web portals. In conclusion, important theoretical and practical implications of the results are presented for both researchers and practitioners.

Engaging student interpreters in vocabulary building: Web search with computer workbench

AbstractThis paper investigates the usefulness of Web portals in a workbench for assisting student interpreters in the search for and collection of vocabulary. The experiment involved a class of fifteen English as a Foreign Language (EFL) student interpreters, who were required to equip themselves with the appropriate English vocabulary to handle an interpreting task they had been assigned. The subjects were given the same topic for vocabulary building in two stages – one stage without and the other stage with the use of the workbench. They were not allowed to repeat vocabulary items in the two stages. They documented their experience in vocabulary preparation in the first stage, and provided think-aloud protocols for the second stage. They also completed a questionnaire and submitted two portfolios. The vocabulary portfolios compiled during the two stages were then compared. The results indicate that, with the use of the workbench, the subjects were more efficient in performing the task of building vocabulary by searching for the required vocabulary, and were able to build a vocabulary portfolio that was larger in size and richer in variety. The data also reveal that most students make use of Web portals that have a specific focus, rather than general search engines. The findings provide important information to support the use of the workbench as a tool for training EFL student interpreters in vocabulary building, and also show that guided Web portals are essential for users who need to perform Web-based language learning activities to achieve efficient search results.

C3-5: Patient Use of a Secure Web Portal and LDL in Patients with Diabetes

Background/Aims Patient use of web portals to interact with their healthcare delivery system and healthcare providers could improve the quality and safety of care. Among patients with diabetes in a large integrated delivery system (IDS), we examined the association between patient use of the web portals and cholesterol test results.

E-Commerce Evaluation and E Business Trends

E-Commerce in recent times has exploded many folds due to the invention of new Information and Communication (ICT) technologies and applications. Business models of today are highly depending upon internet based transaction and trading platforms, use of Web portals and mobile applications. Proposition of new business models sans the inclusion of internet and their application has become almost impossible for business. Business data pertaining to E Commerce has become highly valuable in recent times. Social networking websites, sharing of product data and its reviews in blogs paves ways for promoting business in new methods. There is need to develop metrics to assess the strength of E Commerce penetration in Business and also evaluate the various E Commerce platforms. Use of E business tools for data analysis, prediction and decision making has become the latest order of the day. Changing trends in E business has a drastic impact on the organizations depending upon internet based applications for handling its business processes and day to day transactions. The impact of information and communication technology on varied areas of the Global economy and current trends in e business is an area of research that could lead to valuable business insights. The adaptation of business models to accommodate the customer's needs for providing an internet based business transaction platform is a reality and a compulsion for business as an order of the day. With so much necessity for business houses to include internet based marketing and applications to support one's business process and customer expectations, the area of E commerce and it's evaluation from a commercial perspective is still under researched.

Barriers to E-Commerce Adoption in Egyptian SMEs

E-commerce has been predicted to be a new driver of economic growth for developing countries. The SME sector plays a significant role in its contribution to the national economy in terms of the wealth created and the number of people employed. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt represent the greatest share of the productive units of the Egyptian economy and the current national policy directions address ways and means of developing the capacities of SMEs. Many factors could be responsible for the low usage of e-commerce among the SMEs in Egypt. In order to determine the factors that promote the adoption of e-commerce, SMEs adopters and non-adopters of e-commerce were asked to indicate the factors inhibiting the adoption of e- commerce. The results show that technical barriers are the most important barriers followed by legal and regulatory barriers, whereas lack of Internet security is the highest barrier that inhibit the implementation of e- commerce in SMEs in Egypt followed by limited use of Internet banking and web portals by SMEs. Also, findings implied that more efforts are needed to help and encourage SMEs in Egypt to speed up e-commerce adoption, particularly the more advanced applications.

Undergraduates' perceptions and use of the university libraries Web portal: Can information literacy instruction make a difference?

There is a common concern among academic libraries that their library Web portals are being underutilized. Literature pertaining to technology acceptance and information systems success indicates that user training plays a pivotal role in fostering favorable attitudes, and facilitating information systems usage among users. However, no study had been conducted to investigate the effect of user education on the acceptance and use of academic library Web portals. To address this gap in the literature, the researcher took the initiative to explore the impact of a semester-long credit-bearing information literacy course on undergraduate students' perceptions and use of the University at Albany Libraries Web portal. Data were collected through two rounds of survey over a period of an academic semester. Results showed that the information literacy course positively influenced participants' perceptions of the Libraries Web portal in terms of perceived ease of use, information quality, system quality, and user satisfaction. Yet, the course did not have an impact on their perceptions of service quality. In addition, statistically significant differences were not found in the overall frequency and duration of use, but in other dimensions of use, namely purpose and task.

Systems engineering execution and knowledge management

The purpose of this is to refocus programs back to the basic objectives of systems engineering execution and capturing key domain knowledge during the time when organizations are adopting new processes, procedures, or technology. While change is necessary, the discipline of the systems engineering and development process (requirements, design, implementation, test, delivery, product feedback, and sustainment) can be adversely impacted in the predicament of checking the updated process and/or procedure compliance box. Simplified approaches will be provided to better manage products and teams including discussion of web and database tools. These approaches provide the ability to better understand and manage products in an age of, sometimes, overwhelming circumstances. This identifies simplified solutions, improvement suggestions, and work flow diagrams with key entry points (framework) for new and legacy programs that include: appointment of improvement focals; maximum use of web portals (one-stop shopping); maximum focus on information that is "need to know," and is provided in a simple, database-driven manner (project domain knowledge management); minimum focus on information that is "nice to know" but is provided for career advancement; common sense entry points for existing programs by utilizing data obtained from quick assessments and Peer Reviews including standard meeting agendas, intergroup coordination meetings, and common status report templates.

Clickstream Data Yields High-Resolution Maps of Science

BackgroundIntricate maps of science have been created from citation data to visualize the structure of scientific activity. However, most scientific publications are now accessed online. Scholarly web portals record detailed log data at a scale that exceeds the number of all existing citations combined. Such log data is recorded immediately upon publication and keeps track of the sequences of user requests (clickstreams) that are issued by a variety of users across many different domains. Given these advantages of log datasets over citation data, we investigate whether they can produce high-resolution, more current maps of science.MethodologyOver the course of 2007 and 2008, we collected nearly 1 billion user interactions recorded by the scholarly web portals of some of the most significant publishers, aggregators and institutional consortia. The resulting reference data set covers a significant part of world-wide use of scholarly web portals in 2006, and provides a balanced coverage of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. A journal clickstream model, i.e. a first-order Markov chain, was extracted from the sequences of user interactions in the logs. The clickstream model was validated by comparing it to the Getty Research Institute's Architecture and Art Thesaurus. The resulting model was visualized as a journal network that outlines the relationships between various scientific domains and clarifies the connection of the social sciences and humanities to the natural sciences.ConclusionsMaps of science resulting from large-scale clickstream data provide a detailed, contemporary view of scientific activity and correct the underrepresentation of the social sciences and humanities that is commonly found in citation data.