User satisfaction with information seeking on the internet

The research described in this article focused on how satisfied Australian academics are when they use the Internet to search for information. The significant methodological outcome of the research was its validation of magnitude estimates of user satisfaction with information seeking on the Internet. Testing the validity and reliability of magnitude estimation as a technique for gathering and analyzing interval data on satisfaction with information seeking was key to the investigation. Data for user satisfaction were then associated with end-user characteristics like training, frequency of use, and expectation of success. The study found that Australian academics generally have a high expectation of success when they engage in information seeking on the Internet, and are satisfied with the process regardless of how frequently they use the network or whether or not they have received formal training. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.