Modeling user′s preferences for document delivery

Abstract

A consumer survey of document delivery in academic settings was conducted using a conjoint analysis approach. During interviews with 79 randomly chosen faculty members and graduate students at three Ohio universities, respondents were each asked to answer hypothetical questions about ordering a desired article. Questions focused on ordering articles from a commercial document delivery service or through interlibrary loan. Factors such as the price of the document, the speed of delivery, and the method of ordering were varied from question to question. Survey results found the price of the document to be the most important consideration. Respondents also expressed more willingness to use interlibrary loan than a commercial service.