Mental models of the bibliographic universe. Part 2: comparison task and conclusions
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to provide some insight into mental models of the bibliographic universe and how they compare with functional requirements for bibliographic records (FRBR) as a conceptual model of the bibliographic universe.
Design/methodology/approach
To get a more complete picture of the mental models, different elicitation techniques were used. The three tasks of the paper were: card‐sorting, concept mapping and comparison task. The paper deals with comparison task, which consisted of interviews and rankings, and provides a discussion of the results of the paper as a whole.
Findings
Results of the ranking part of the comparison task confirm the findings of concept mapping task. In both cases, while there are individual differences between mental models, on average they gravitate towards FRBR.
Research limitations/implications
This is a small study and it provides only a glimpse of the implications of using FRBR as a conceptual basis for cataloguing. More FRBR‐related user studies are needed, including similar studies on different groups of individuals and different types of materials, as well as practical studies of user needs and user interfaces.
Practical implications
The results of this study are the first user‐tested indication of the validity of FRBR as a conceptual basis for the future of cataloguing.
Originality/value
This is the first published paper of mental models of the bibliographic universe and uses a unique combination of mental model elicitation techniques.
Keywords
Citation
Pisanski, J. and Žumer, M. (2010), "Mental models of the bibliographic universe. Part 2: comparison task and conclusions", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 66 No. 5, pp. 668-680. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411011066781
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited