ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses individual-related factors and product-related factors that seem to be most relevant and useful for modeling the differences between users and between types of scientific and technical information (STI) documentations. There are a number of compelling reasons why STI systems should become more user oriented in terms of content and design of the information, the process of dissemination, the degree of availability to potential users, and the pricing policies that the system uses. A number of benefits are obvious in a user-oriented STI system. In order to make STI system more user oriented, we must first understand and model STI user behavior and its underlying psychologyical processes of perceptions and motivations. Perceived STI utility is subject to both individual and product differences. Understanding and modeling the user behavior must be systematically incorporated in the planning and management of STI.
