The number of ways users can find information has a direct impact on how many of them will actually find the information they need. I haven’t found any literature that suggests having fewer ways to find information improves retrieval. If you know of any, please post a link or reference to it.
The research on the higher number of ways to find information resulting in more users finding it has been around since the early 80’s, so say almost 30 years. I am curious how many information systems have taken those lessons to heart?
It won’t be a big part of any of my blogs for the next week or so but let me propose that you and I do an informal survey of information systems. Could be anything, a local website, the local library catalog, perhaps a government agency site, etc.
Pick some subject, one that interests you, then find that subject in an information system Now, for the fun part. How many other ways can you find that information? Could include other words for it, other ways to access the same information, etc. Write each one down and then post to one of my blog posts that mention it, a link (if you like), the subject and the To Find Me, TFM score for that subject.
TFM is incremented by one for every way to find a subject in a particular information resource. At my website, you can find information on “topic maps,” and the same thing as “ISO 13250,” so the TFM score would be 2.
I will pick a subject as well and will post a short note every day about my experience on finding that subject and then trying to find other ways to find that subject. Happy hunting!
[…] have talked about TFM (To Find Me) scores before. Take a look at How Can I Find Thee? Let me count the ways… for […]
Pingback by What Is Your TFM (To Find Me) Score? « Another Word For It — April 15, 2010 @ 10:57 am