Influences of general computer experience and age on library database search performance

Two experiments examined the effects of general computer experience and age on library system search performance among novice library system users. Tw enty younger adults (10 with high and 10 with low computer experience) and 20 older adults (10 with low and 10 with no computer experience) performed 10 search tasks of varying difficulty. Search success, syntax errors, datab ase field specifications, keyword specifications, and use of Boolean operat ors were examined. Among younger novices, high computer experience was asso ciated with slightly better performance than low computer experience. Among older novices, having some computer experience was associated with much be tter performance than no computer experience. Older computer users showed l ower overall success rates, made more syntax and field specification errors , and demonstrated poorer understanding of Boolean logic and keyword matchi ng algorithms than younger adults with similar computer experience. Implica tions for interface design and training interventions for novice on-line li brary system users are discussed.