Users Studies

Course Main Objective

This course aims to make students acquainted with basic concepts of user studies, forms, theories and behaviors of users upon making information request; how users deal with information; problems and difficulties of user studies; methods of collecting information in user studies, information analysis and presentation and drawing conclusions and recommendations.

Course Learning Outcomes

• 1. Knowledge and Comprehension
• 1.1 Explain basic concepts in user studies.
• 2. Skills
• 2.1 Apply methods of collecting information in user studies, information analysis and presentation, drawing conclusions.
• 2.2 Use information technology in field of user studies.
• 3. Values
• 3.1 Bear individual and collective responsibility and work effectively in teamwork.

Course Content:

• Basic concepts in user studies: users, their categories.
• Users’ needs and information seeking behavior.
• Importance, aims and domains of user studies.
• Problems and difficulties of user studies.
• Information seeking behavior, factors and variables that affect information use.
• Methods of collecting information in user studies; information analysis and presentation; drawing conclusions and recommendations.
• Models of user studies.

Textbook (s) 

Ismail, Abdel Baqi.Y. (2017). User Studies and Services in Libraries and Information Center. United Arab Company for Supplies and Marketing.

Course ID: INFO 351