Um estudo sobre a interação dos usuários com a interface e o sistema de busca do Portal de Periódicos da Capes

Abstract

The CAPES Portal of E-Journals is highly relevant for higher education and for Brazilian science as it provides access to important sources of scientific information. Since it was launched, it has under gone several changes in its interface, layout and search resources and system in a constant effort to facilitate navigation and improve the services offered to users. Under this context, the following research question was raised: How the interface and search system of the CAPES Portal of E-Journals has supported the activities of interaction, search and retrieval of information? To investigate this issue, this study integrates perspectives of the field of Information Science and of Computer Science to achieve a more complete analysis of the information search process in CAPES Portal of E-Journals, to identify what problems in the interface and search system preventor hinder user interaction and information retrieval, and to propose possible solutions to improve this system. The literature review presents the evolution of search engines and the challenges of Information Retrieval on the Web, models of Information Seeking Behavior in Information Retrieval Systems (IRS) and the area of Human-Computer Interaction based on Semiotics Engineering. In addition, there view a analyses the integration of the areas of Information Retrieval, Information Search Behaviour and Human-Computer Interaction for IRS interface design and information in scientific communities. This research is characterized as study of exploratory and descriptive nature, using qualitative approach. The sample will be composed of doctoral students in the areas of Humanities, Linguistics, ,Language and Arts, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences and librarians of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). For data collection and analysis the study applies methods of evaluation. The first, performed by specialists, is denominated Semiotic Inspection Method (SIM). The second, carried out with users, is called Method Explanation of Underlying Discourse (MEDS) and was adapted to be based n models for representing the search for information in IRS the results allowed the identification of the difficulties and problems in the interface and search system; the observation of tactics, judgments and changes in strategies used during an episode search; the knowledge of what the users think about the interface and the search engine, and of what characteristics are to their liking or dislike and the proposition of recommendations for improving the CAPES Portal of E-Journals interface. The study suggests that the findings aim at advancing the understanding of the processes of user interaction with the Information Retrieval Systems, and at contributing to the development of the area of Interactive Information Retrieval.