IUPUI DataWorks Deposit

Title: IUPUI University Library Subject Guide Usage Statistics (Fall 2012)

Author: Durrant, Summer 

Abstract: Data files contain web usage statistics for eight IUPUI University Library subject guides hosted on Springshare’s LibGuides platform during the fall 2012 semester. Google Analytics was used to collect data on general usage patterns, visitor characteristics, and traffic sources. The event tracking feature recorded clicks on outbound exit links, file downloads, and mailto links. Three goals were identified to measure subject guide conversion rate, including: (1) clicks on electronic resources, (2) use of instructional materials, and (3) requests for help. These usage statistics were analyzed to assess how effectively subject guide connect users to library resources and services.

Keywords: LibGuides, Google Analytics, Subject Pathfinders, Usage Statistics, Assessment

Connect to Assessing Library Subject Guides using Google Analytics (2012 ARL Assessment Conference poster) – http://hdl.handle.net/1805/3213

Codebook

Title: IUPUI University Library Guide Usage Statistics (Fall 2012)

Author: Durrant, Summer

Bibliographic Citation:

Data Collection Description: The purpose of this data collection was to assess how effectively subject guides created at IUPUI University Library connect users to library resources and services. In fall 2012, eight subject guides representing degree programs in the humanities, social sciences, and professional programs were selected for inclusion in a pilot project. Google Analytics was installed to monitor general usage patterns, visitor characteristics, and traffic sources. Event tracking was utilized to track clicks on outbound exit links, file downloads, and mailto links. Each event was assigned to one of three categories: (1) electronic resources, (2) instructional materials, and (3) contact. These event categories were defined as goals in Google Analytics to measure subject guide conversion rate.

Extent of Collection: 7 data files + codebook
Part 1: Content Views
Part 2: Events
Part 3: Internal Site Search
Part 4: Traffic Sources
Part 5: Visitor Behavior
Part 6: Visitor Location
Part 7: Visits by Date
Part 8: Codebook for all parts
 
Dimensions & Metrics

More information on dimensions and metrics in Google Analytics is available online - https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/reporting/core/dimsmets

Dimension / Metric	Explanation	
Bounces	visits in which only a single page was viewed and no events were triggered	
City	derived from user IP address	
Continent	derived from user IP address
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania	
Count of Visits	number of sessions for each unique visitor	
Country	derived from user IP address	
Date	date of the visit (mm/dd/yyyy)	
Days Since Last Visit	number of days elapsed since visitor last visited website	
Event Action	ask-a-librarian
databases
email
general information
IM
library tools
monographs
phone
tutorials
worksheets
websites	
Event Category	electronic resources
instructional materials
contact	
Event Label	name of electronic resource, instructional material, or contact	
Exits	number of exits from website 	
Keywords	keywords used by visitors in search engines to find website	
Medium	type of referral to website
campaign
direct
referral
search engine	
Metro	derived from user IP address; Designated Market Area	
Goal Completions	number of completions for all defined goals in the profile	
Goal 1 Completions	defined as user clicking on an electronic resource	
Goal 2 Completions	defined as user accessing instructional materials	
Goal 3 Completions	defined as user contacting a librarian for help 	
Page	website page URL	
Pageviews	number of pageviews	
Refined Keyword	subsequent keyword search terms or strings entered by users after a given initial string search	
Region	derived from user IP address; state or province	
Search Depth	average number of subsequent page views after an internal site search	
Search Exits	number of exits that occurred following a search result from an internal site search	
Search Refinements	subsequent keyword search terms or strings entered by users after a given initial string search	
Search Term	keywords or strings used to search within website	
Source	source of referral to website	
Time after Search	visit duration with an internal site search	
Total Events	number of events across all categories	
Total Unique Searches	number of unique searches within a session; if “nursing” was searched 3 times in the same visit, it would only be counted once	
Visit Duration	length of visit measured in seconds (00:00:00)	
Visitor Type	indicated whether a visitor is new or returning
new visitor
returning visitor	
Visits	total number of sessions	
Visits with Search	number of sessions that included an internal site search	

Event Tracking

More information on Event Tracking in Google Analytics is available online - https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/gajs/eventTrackerGuide 

Category	Action	Label	
Electronic Resource	Monographs
Databases
Journals
Websites	Name of resource	
Instructional Materials	General Information – links to library policies and procedures and maps
Library Tools – forms such as citation linker, e-journal finder, ILL request
Worksheets – search strategies, CRAAP, scholarly vs. popular
Tutorials – multimedia both internal and external		
Contact	Ask-a-Librarian
Email
IM
Phone	Librarian name
Reference desk	

Goals

More information on how to set up goals in Google Analytics in available online - http://support.google.com/analytics/answer/1032415?hl=en. 

Three goals were defined for data collection: (1) electronic resources, (2) instructional materials, and (3) contact.

Goals were set up based on event categories assigned to tracking clicks on outbound exit links, file downloads, and mailto links.