User Typology Research Articles

KMUT – Project Management Toolbox

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly dealing with international projects and distributed (sometimes even virtual) teams. Consequently, they are looking for project management (PM) tools which fit their respective needs regarding communication and collaboration. Unfortunately, the majority of the PM software available in the market seems to be oversized for this purpose. Instead most project managers are requesting smart solutions that allow quick implementation without any significant organisational or technical change.
 Within the research project InterComp SME 2.0 we combine theoretical research and real business to develop hands-on solutions for SMEs. This paper describes an effective approach for a â??PM Toolboxâ? that allows finding the right project tool for a specific project need. The toolbox has been developed in due consideration of user stories gained from business practice, a more detailed SME business survey, a theoretical PM meta model and a market of PM tools.
 Since the business survey revealed that the readiness to use and test a â??toolboxâ? is highly dependent on the type of user and his or her technical background, we designed the system based on use cases and user typology. As a result, we suggest a framework of open, freely available, easy-to-install, single and multi purpose PM software tools which can be selected solely on a need basis. With this free platform we want to guide practitioners through the tool jungle with the potential to grow into a lively community.

Mortality Risk for Cocaine Abusers in Relation to Heroin Use: A Follow-Up Study

Cohort study on 471 subjects resident in the metropolitan area of Bologna who had visited a public treatment center for problems due to the abuse of cocaine from January 1, 1988 to December 31, 2009. Two user typologies were created: cocaine users (no heroin) and heroin and cocaine users. Crude mortality rates and standardized mortality ratios were calculated. We performed a regression analysis using the Poisson method. The study results show a higher mortality risk for those injecting substances and for subjects who took both heroin and cocaine. They appear to have different characteristics from their counterparts who do not use heroin. Future studies should be oriented to this aspect.

Diversity and Dynamism of Fire Science User Needs

The Joint Fire Science Program has initiated regional consortia to deliver science to managers and other natural resource stakeholders. Given the diversity and complexity of forest management and policy, there is a need to understand and reframe fire science user audiences. In this article, we assess fire science use in the US Northwest (Oregon and Washington) to describe these diverse users and how they perceive, access, and apply fire science. We found that user needs range widely and are sometimes contradictory because of their professions, roles, and relationships, as well as the networks in which they are embedded. Contradictions included desires for both generality and specificity, for social and personal learning, and for science to remain an expert arbiter even as it may increasingly come from nonexpert or potentially partial sources. These factors suggest that fire science delivery should address audiences not only by user typologies but also as a set of dynamic, shifting uses. There is a clear need for intermediary organizations and networks to organize, interpret, and deliver science. These may be most relevant and useful if they offer multiple delivery formats that appeal to the various ways that fire science users learn both as individuals and socially in interactive settings.

Adoption of Online Social Media Innovation

Few but mentionable studies have been conducted in typifying the Online Social Media (OSM) users. Studies on innovations taking place within the OSM environment are also very much found. But gaps are present in linking OSM innovations and adoption of innovations by the OSM users. Precise and objective studies to put the OSM users in an adoption spectrum are close to nil, though such studies might carry great significance in this new but exploding field of business and marketing. This study focuses on proposing an ‘Adoption Spectrum’ for OSM innovations by the users by proliferating Rogers’s ‘Adoption of Innovation’ with the ‘Typology of OSM Users’. Absolutely conceptual and qualitative in nature, the study concentrates on assessing the speed and magnitude of adoption of OSM innovations by the users. The proposed spectrum is an alignment between Rogers’s work and the OSM user typology. Mentionable limitation of this piece of work may be forwarding the empirical justifications for further study. However, the study may be used as input for managing innovations by the firms that venture through OSM.

Social media marketing: exploring the user typology in Turkey

Recent decades witnessed changes, opportunities, and challenges in marketing with the introduction of Web 2.0, the personalised, communicative form of the internet on which social media is based upon. Given the opportunities it provides, companies need to analyse and understand this new generation digital world and its users. Classifying diverse user behaviours into meaningful categories of user types can be a starting step. The objective of this study, therefore, is to classify the users according to social media usage preferences and determine their demographic profiles. For this purpose, a descriptive research was conducted in Turkey, which is considered as one of the most socially present emerging market nations. Cluster analysis, factor analysis, and ANOVA were applied on the data. The findings indicated that social media users in Turkey consist of five groups which are inactives (33%), sporadics (33%), entertainment users (12%), debaters (15%), and advanced users (7%). Implications are given for marketers who think about targeting one of these groups.

Manage Projects Smarter: Picking Tools for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly dealing with international projects and distributed (sometimes even virtual) teams. Consequently, they are looking for project management (PM) tools which fit their respective needs regarding communication and collaboration. Unfortunately, the majority of the PM software available in the market seems to be oversized for this purpose. Instead most project managers are requesting smart solutions that allow quick implementation without any significant organisational or technical change.
 Within the research project InterComp SME 2.0 we combine theoretical research and real business to develop hands-on solutions for SMEs. This paper describes an effective approach for a â??PM Toolboxâ? that allows finding the right project tool for a specific project need. The toolbox has been developed in due consideration of user stories gained from business practice, a more detailed SME business survey, a theoretical PM meta model and a market of PM tools.
 Since the business survey revealed that the readiness to use and test a â??toolboxâ? is highly dependent on the type of user and his or her technical background, we designed the system based on use cases and user typology. As a result, we suggest a framework of open, freely available, easy-to-install, single and multi purpose PM software tools which can be selected solely on a need basis. With this free platform we want to guide practitioners through the tool jungle with the potential to grow into a lively community.

Automated approaches to characterizing educational digital library usage: linking computational methods with qualitative analyses

The need for automatic methods capable of characterizing adoption and use has grown in operational digital libraries. This paper describes a computational method for producing two, inter-related, user typologies based on use diffusion. Furthermore, a case study is described that demonstrates the utility and applicability of the method: it is used to understand how middle and high school science teachers participating in an academic year-long field trial adopted and integrated digital library resources into their instructional planning and teaching. Use diffusion theory views technology adoption as a process that can lead to widely different patterns of use across a given population of potential users; these models use measures of frequency and variety to characterize and describe such usage patterns. By using computational techniques such as clickstream entropy and clustering, the method produces both coarse- and fine-grained user typologies. As a part of improving the initial coarse-grain typology, clickstream entropy improvements are described that aim at better separation of users. In addition, a fine-grained user typology is described that identifies five different types of teacher-users, including "interactive resource specialists" and "community seeker specialists." This typology was validated through comparison with qualitative and quantitative data collected using traditional educational field research methods. Results indicate that qualitative analyses correlate with the computational results, suggesting automatic methods may prove an important tool in discovering valid usage characteristics and user types.

Investigating pro-Environmental and Active Travel Behaviour for Successful Sustainable Travel Promotion

The promotion of sustainable transport is usually targeted at transportation system users in urban areas. However, the end result of any such initiative depends largely on the recipients. Investigating people's behaviour and identifying user profiles to reveal the degree of their environmental awareness and sensitivity, as well as their attitudes towards active travelling, could shed light on the critical aspects of behaviour relevant to everyday mobility practices. This information could be used to enhance appropriate sustainable policies that presently seem to be inadequate.This paper is concerned with recent research work which was part of a large-scale survey in the city of Thessaloniki, in Northern Greece. The survey was undertaken in the context of the implementation of a new Intelligent Transport System-ITS platform providing traveller information and enabling the selection of alternative greener routes. The work focuses on analysing possible user typologies to allow a more targeted approach and the development of properly tailored interventions for sustainable travel promotion.From a sample of 4,815 respondents to a large scale survey of user needs, this research focused upon those who were car drivers, 3,132 in total. Following cluster analysis, a traveller typology indicated differing degrees of environmental sensitivity and active mobility. This provided information enabling appropriate interventions and policy-related actions. It allowed differentiation between several intervention audiences, the devising of appropriate incentives, and strengthening the potential of sustainable travel policies. The findings from this work, on which the initial recommendations such as integrated approaches, combining methodologies and the relevance of local context to intervention design are based, could be extended and elaborated through further research.

A typology of social networking sites users

Social networking sites (SNSs) are said to be new important means of participating, communicating, and gaining social capital. Thus, increasingly fragmented user population and user behaviours in SNSs make it important to achieve more knowledge about SNS users and their participation inequality. This article proposes a user typology for SNSs, which identifies and describes the variety of ways in which people use SNSs. An analysis of the survey data from 5,233 respondents in four major Norwegian SNSs showed five distinct user types: 1) sporadics; 2) lurkers; 3) socialisers; 4) debaters; 5) actives. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis validates the typology. The SNS user typology contributes to a more nuanced and precise measure of how future research should identify and predict SNS use and better understand participation inequality in SNSs. The identification of various user types indicates a 50-30-20 rule for participation in small and locally bounded online communities compared to the existing 90-9-1 rule. Finally, the results could help the design of SNSs in tailoring them to user type.

TOWARDS DEVELOPING NEW PARTNERSHIPS IN PUBLIC SERVICES: USERS AS CONSUMERS, CITIZENS AND/OR CO‐PRODUCERS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE IN ENGLAND AND SWEDEN

The causes and effects of marketization of public services have been analysed extensively in the literature, but there is relatively little research on how those policies impact on the development of new forms of governance, and the role of users in these new arrangements. This study reviews examples of competition, freedom of choice and personalized care in health and social services in England and Sweden, in order to examine the type of relationships emerging between the user/consumer vis-à-vis market driven providers and various agencies of the state under the marketized welfare. The article focuses on the possible roles users might assume in new hybrid arrangements between markets, collaborations and steering. A user typology: namely, that of a consumer, citizen, co-producer and responsibilized agent in various governance arrangements, is then suggested. The article concludes by arguing that pro-market policies instead of meeting the alleged needs of post-modern users for individualized public services are likely to promote a new type of highly volatile and fragile partnerships, and create a new subordinated user who has no choice but to ‘choose’ services they have little control over.

Understanding the new digital divide—A typology of Internet users in Europe

The purpose of this study is to better understand the digital divide by identifying the variety of ways in which people in Europe use the Internet. First, by using cluster analysis on survey data ( N=12,666/age: 16–74 years) from Eurostat on Internet usage in Norway, Sweden, Austria, the UK, and Spain, we identified five user types: Non-Users (42%), Sporadic Users (18%), Instrumental Users (18%), Entertainment Users (10%), and Advanced Users (12%). These user types differ in their distributions over country, age, access, household members, and gender. An alarming finding is that 60% of the population was found to be either Non-Users or Sporadic Users, which reflects a large digital divide in Europe. Second, we conducted a logistic regression to identify the predictors for different user types. We found on a cross-national level that age and Internet access are the most salient predictors, whereas gender and household seems to be less relevant. However, the amount of variance explained differs between countries. We also suggested a future increase in the digital divide between the identified user types—a user type divide. The user typology and the identified predictors might help researchers, practitioners, and decision makers to better understand Internet users and the multi-complex variations among individuals and countries. This knowledge will also serve as a means to understand the digital divide by providing a more nuanced perspective on Europeans' unequal usage of the Internet and participation in an increasingly digital society.

Towards a unified Media-User Typology (MUT): A meta-analysis and review of the research literature on media-user typologies

Considering the increasingly complex media landscape and diversity of use, it is important to establish a common ground for identifying and describing the variety of ways in which people use new media technologies. Characterising the nature of media-user behaviour and distinctive user types is challenging and the literature offers little guidance in this regard. Hence, the present research aims to classify diverse user behaviours into meaningful categories of user types, according to the frequency of use, variety of use and content preferences. To reach a common framework, a review of the relevant research was conducted. An overview and meta-analysis of the literature (22 studies) regarding user typology was established and analysed with reference to (1) method, (2) theory, (3) media platform, (4) context and year, and (5) user types. Based on this examination, a unified Media-User Typology (MUT) is suggested. This initial MUT goes beyond the current research literature, by unifying all the existing and various user type models. A common MUT model can help the Human–Computer Interaction community to better understand both the typical users and the diversification of media-usage patterns more qualitatively. Developers of media systems can match the users’ preferences more precisely based on an MUT, in addition to identifying the target groups in the developing process. Finally, an MUT will allow a more nuanced approach when investigating the association between media usage and social implications such as the digital divide.

Reflections on lexicographical user research

The last decades have seen a growing interest in theoretical and practical problems related to lexicographical user research. Starting with a discussion of the concept of lexicographi-cally relevant user needs, this contribution analyses, utilising the lexicographical function theory, various types of needs to be taken into account when doing this kind of research. It then discusses the positive and negative aspects of the various methods applied, i.e. questionnaires, interviews, observation, protocols, experiments, tests, and log files. With reference to both lexicographical and sociological literature, it raises a number of problems common to most of the lexicographical user research conducted until now and recommends the application of scientific methods in future research. Finally, it proposes a number of alternative methods in order to obtain more knowledge about the real user needs. Keywords: lexicography, function theory, dictionary usage, user needs, user typology, user situations, user research, research methods, ques-tionnaires, interviews, observation, experiments, tests, log files

From 3D reconstruction to virtual reality: A complete methodology for digital archaeological exhibition

For nearly two decades, virtual reality (VR) technologies have been employed in the field of cultural heritage for various purposes. The safeguard, the protection and the fruition of the remains of the past have gained a powerful tool, thanks to the potentialities of immersive visualization and 3D reconstruction of archaeological sites and finds. VR applications based on videogame technologies are known for their realism and fluid interactivity, but the choice of the fittest technologies remains a complex task because there is an ample number of hardware devices and software development kits. Moreover the design of a VR application for cultural heritage requires several different professional skills and presents a certain complexity in coordination and management. This paper presents strategies to overcome these problems, by suggesting some guidelines for the development of VR systems for cultural heritage. It illustrates a complete methodology to create a virtual exhibition system, based on realistic high-quality 3D models of archaeological finds (reconstructed using a 3D Scanner and a high definition camera) and a low-cost multimedia stereoscopic system called MNEME, which allows the user to interact in a free and easy way with a rich collection of archaeological finds. The solution we propose is intended to be easy to transport and fully usable by different user typologies, without any external assistance or supervision.

Profiling poly-substance use typologies in a multi-site cohort of illicit opioid and other drug users in Canada–a latent class analysis

‘Poly-substance use’ is increasingly prevalent among street drug user populations. The objective was to employ latent class analysis (LCA) to empirically categorize and extract potential typologies of poly-substance users within a multi-site cohort of illicit opioid and other drug users (OPICAN) in Canada, and examine potential associations with social and health indicators. Drug use patterns of 582 participants from the most recent follow-up (2005) of the cohort study–focusing on drug use prevalence indicators in the past 30 days–were empirically analyzed via LCA. These classes were further examined for associations with social and health variables using chi-square, ANOVA. Binomial logistic regression models were used to predict class membership. LCA analysis resulted in eight distinct user typologies, characterized both by the distinct relative prevalence of different substances (e.g., including: heroin, prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine, crack, alcohol, cannabis, and others) used and administration routes (e.g., injection or noninjection), the majority of which were described by the predominant use of two or more distinct substance groups (e.g., opioids and stimulants). At least two of the active poly-substance user classes were described by predominant noninjection as the primary route of administration. ‘Poor or fair’ health status was reported at the highest prevalence level by the class of intensive poly-substance injectors, while HCV-positive status was disproportionately low in the classes of current noninjectors. Analytical examination of poly-substance use patterns is a distinct challenge for meaningful drug use monitoring, also providing important evidence for targeted prevention and treatment interventions.

Mixed methods for mixed reality: understanding users’ avatar activities in virtual worlds

This paper examines the use of mixed methods for analyzing users’ avatar-related activities in a virtual world. Server logs recorded keystroke-level activity for 595 participants over a six-month period in Whyville.net, an informal science website. Participants also completed surveys and participated in interviews regarding their experiences. Additionally, the study included online ethnographic observations of Whyville and offline observations of a subset of 88 users in classroom and after-school settings during their participation. A mixed-methods analysis identified a major user emphasis on avatar appearance and customization that was invariant across user typologies. Implications for the use of mixed methods in online environments are discussed with regard to three challenges resolved during the study: (1) appropriate reduction of the vast quantity of data, (2) integrated analysis of online and offline events, and (3) interactions between qualitative and quantitative data.

An Exploratory Investigation of Marijuana and Other Drug Careers

In-depth interviews and a qualitative methodology are used to examine the drug careers of a nonrandom sample of 31 current or former marijuana smokers. Three user typologies were developed to describe the complex development of marijuana careers over time: Druggies, Weekend Warriors, and Grown-ups. Druggies and Weekend Warriors tend to use marijuana (and alcohol) fairly heavily during the early phases of their careers; Druggies pass this stage quickly and eventually move on to harder drugs and periods of chronic substance abuse. Gradual assumption of adult identities and roles allow Weekend Warriors to moderate their marijuana (and other drug use), which steadily declines throughout the remainder of their careers. Grown-ups tend to use marijuana and all drugs moderately during the beginning phases of their careers, eschew experimentation with harder drugs, and generally progress to very controlled use of marijuana and other intoxicants (or abstinence) in the later stages of their careers. The social process of using marijuana teaches the majority of users to quit or how to integrate its use into a lifestyle that can reasonably be described as normal or conventional. Lastly, two future directions for drug career research are suggested.

Days and Nights on the Internet

For a growing cohort of Americans, Internet tools have become a significant conduit of social life and work life. The surveys of the Pew Internet & American Life Project in 2000 show that more than 52 million Americans went online each day, and there are significant differences in use between men and women, young and old, those of different races and ethnic groups, and those of different socioeconomic status. A user typology can be built around two variables: the length of time a person has used the Internet and the frequency with which he or she logs on from home. The authors contend that use of e-mail helps people build their social networks by extending and maintaining friend and family relationships.

How French research scientists are making use of electronic journals: a case study conducted at Pierre et Marie Curie University and Denis Diderot University

There have been few studies to date on how French research scientists are using electronic journals in their work. Under a national programme for document digitisation in higher education and research, a qualitative study was conducted at the Jussieu Campus in Paris among 25 researchers and doctoral students and nine documentalists. The main disciplines covered were physics, chemistry and biology, with some representatives from mathematics, computer science and earth sciences. A user typology was built up, and several of the findings agree substantially with those in the (mainly Anglo-Saxon) literature, which demonstrate the importance of factors such as the discipline concerned and the immediate working environment of researchers, including equipment, local practice, and the resources that are promoted or made available. Other more subjective factors also need to be taken into account.

How French research scientists are making use of electronic journals: a case study conducted at Pierre et Marie Curie University and Denis Diderot University

There have been few studies to date on how French research scientists are using electronic journals in their work. Under a national programme for document digitisation in higher education and research, a qualitative study was conducted at the Jussieu Campus in Paris among 25 researchers and doctoral students and nine documentalists. The main disciplines covered were physics, chemistry and biology, with some representatives from mathematics, computer science and earth sciences. A user typology was built up, and several of the findings agree substantially with those in the (mainly Anglo-Saxon) literature, which demonstrate the importance of factors such as the discipline concerned and the immediate working environment of researchers, including equipment, local practice, and the resources that are promoted or made available. Other more subjective factors also need to be taken into account.