Find Articles
The researchers who publish their findings around usability are mainly in computer science and business. But since you are concerned with students and libraries, you could focus on library science and education sources.
Education & Library Science
- Library Science Databases (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowSearch 3 databases containing library research at the same time: LISTA, Library Lit & ERIC (general education).
- Education Databases: Education Research Complete & ERIC (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowSimultaneous search option for the two most comprehensive education databases.
- Inside Higher EdOnline news/opinion publication focused on higher education issues. Aimed at faculty/staff, not students, but you may find interesting perspectives on using CMSs, etc.
- Chronicle of Higher Education - 1990-presWeekly newspaper for higher education. Articles are in Academic Search Ultimate, but if you want to just search this one source, go here. There is a 30-day embargo for the full article, so won't be able to read the last month's stories.
Computer Science
- ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Digital Library This link opens in a new windowAccess to journal articles, conference papers, and even videos from conferences. Be specific in your terminology!
- IEEE Xplore (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) This link opens in a new windowFocuses on IEEE publications and conferences, so doesn't have the breadth of ACM. From my perspective, the results are more technical than in ACM.
All Subjects
- Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowCovers all subjects, so good place to start. And if all the best articles are from an education perspective, or business perspective, then you can go to the most relevant database.
- EWU Library Catalog This link opens in a new window
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The Library Catalog has records for millions of articles. The default is to only show articles that we should have full text. It appears to be searching the full text of the article behind the scenes, so you can use very specific keywords.
Find Books
Finding Books
Relevant books on user design and usability testing are in many different places in the library, and we have many eBooks. Some key terms to try are:
- "usability test*"
- "user interfaces"
- "human-computer interaction"
- "consumer behavior" technology
- EWU Library Catalog This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
Search for books, videos, articles and more at EWU Libraries, Summit Libraries and beyond. While not required, if you want the full functionality (save or request items, etc.), please sign in with your NetID.
eBooks
We have various eBook platforms, and each is a bit different if you want to download the book to your computer or device. You should be able to view the eBook on the screen without the hassle of downloading, if you just want to skim.
- ProQuest eBook Central - you'll have to login with your NetID/password. You can easily view sections and it tells you how many pages you're allowed to download as a PDF, based on the publisher's restrictions. To download and check out the whole book, you'll need Adobe Digital Editions for computers, and the Bluefire Reader for other devices. (It's pretty good about prompting you what you need.)
- EBSCOhost eBooks -- works roughly the same as ProQuest, though you'll have to create a My EBSCOhost Account if you don't have one already.
- Taylor & Francis and Wiley - DRM-free, so these are the easiest interfaces, with each chapter viewable or download a PDF copy.