Short answer

Redesign OPAC interfaces to use plain language, avoid technical jargon, and offer navigation structures that align with users' existing knowledge and common search behaviors.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Journal of Information Systems and Informatics (2026)
Method: Mixed-methods evaluation (Heuristic Evaluation and User Testing)
Sample: 3 experts, unspecified number of students
Evidence: Strong effect

A significant gap exists between how vocational students search for information and the current design of library Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs), leading to poor usability and reduced information literacy. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2026 study published in Journal of Information Systems and Informatics. Using Mixed-methods evaluation (heuristic evaluation and user testing) with 3 experts, unspecified number of students, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Redesign OPAC interfaces to use plain language, avoid technical jargon, and offer navigation structures that align with users' existing knowledge and common search behaviors.

Study

User-Centred DesignNew This WeekStrong effect

OPAC Usability Hinders Information Literacy: Vocational Students Struggle with Library Jargon and Navigation

Journal of Information Systems and Informatics · 2026

Key Findings

01Heuristic evaluation identified 18 significant usability violations, particularly related to library technical jargon and error prevention.
02User testing revealed a low average Task Success Rate (49.3%) and a poor System Usability Scale (SUS) score (55.0), indicating unacceptable usability.
03Specific dissonance points were found between students' mental models and the system's bibliographic metadata and navigation.

Application

Design takeaway

Redesign OPAC interfaces to use plain language, avoid technical jargon, and offer navigation structures that align with users' existing knowledge and common search behaviors.

How to apply

Before launching or updating any information system, conduct heuristic evaluations with usability experts and perform user testing with representative users, employing think-aloud protocols and standardized usability questionnaires.

Project actions

01When evaluating a system, consider both expert opinions and actual user experiences.
02Use qualitative data (like think-aloud) to understand *why* users struggle, not just *if* they struggle.

Method & Evidence

AimTo evaluate the usability of a school library OPAC and identify specific points of 'mental model dissonance' that hinder information retrieval for vocational students.

MethodMixed-methods evaluation (Heuristic Evaluation and User Testing)

ProcedureThree usability experts conducted a heuristic evaluation of the OPAC, identifying violations of usability principles. Subsequently, vocational students performed specific tasks using the OPAC, employing the Think-Aloud protocol to voice their thoughts and completing the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire.

Sample3 experts, unspecified number of students

ContextVocational high school library

Variables

IVOPAC design (e.g., jargon, navigation, error prevention)

DVUsability (Task Success Rate, SUS score), User perception, Information retrieval efficiency

CVUser demographic (vocational students), Specific tasks performed, Library context

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Employs a mixed-methods approach combining expert review and empirical user testing.
+Identifies specific usability issues and quantifies user performance and perception.

Limitations

The number of expert evaluators was small, and the specific student population might not represent all vocational students.

Reliability & validity

Reliability is supported by the use of standardized metrics like SUS and the Think-Aloud protocol. Validity is enhanced by the triangulation of data from expert evaluation and user testing, directly addressing the research aim.

Think critically

To what extent do the findings regarding 'mental model dissonance' generalize to other digital information systems beyond library OPACs, and what are the implications for designing interfaces for diverse user groups?

Design Principles

"Design interfaces to minimize cognitive load by matching system metaphors and terminology with user expectations and mental models."

Designers must recognize that users' mental models, especially those of digital natives, may not align with traditional information architecture. Failing to bridge this gap results in systems that are not only difficult to use but actively impede users from achieving their goals.

What This Means for Your Design

The library's computer system for finding books is hard for students to use because it uses confusing words and isn't organized the way they expect, making it difficult to find what they need.

How to use in your project

1.Use the findings to justify user testing and heuristic evaluations in your own design project.
2.Cite this study when discussing the importance of aligning system design with user mental models.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This study highlights the critical need for user-centered design in information systems, demonstrating how a mismatch between user mental models and system architecture, as evidenced by low task success rates and poor usability scores in a school library OPAC, can significantly impede user goals. The research underscores the value of integrating heuristic evaluations with empirical user testing to identify specific design flaws and inform necessary interface restructuring for improved user experience and information literacy.

Source

Journal of Information Systems and Informatics

Usability Evaluation of a School Library OPAC Using Heuristic Evaluation and User Testing

journal · 2026

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about opac usability hinders information literacy: vocational students struggle with library jargon and navigation?: Redesign OPAC interfaces to use plain language, avoid technical jargon, and offer navigation structures that align with users' existing knowledge and common search behaviors. Evidence: Journal of Information Systems and Informatics (2026).
Why does "OPAC Usability Hinders Information Literacy: Vocational Students Struggle with Library Jargon and Navigation" matter for design?: Designers must recognize that users' mental models, especially those of digital natives, may not align with traditional information architecture. Failing to bridge this gap results in systems that are not only difficult to use but actively impede users from achieving their goals.
How can designers apply this research?: Redesign OPAC interfaces to use plain language, avoid technical jargon, and offer navigation structures that align with users' existing knowledge and common search behaviors.
What were the main findings?: Heuristic evaluation identified 18 significant usability violations, particularly related to library technical jargon and error prevention.. User testing revealed a low average Task Success Rate (49.3%) and a poor System Usability Scale (SUS) score (55.0), indicating unacceptable usability.. Specific dissonance points were found between students' mental models and the system's bibliographic metadata and navigation.
What research method was used?: Mixed-methods evaluation (Heuristic Evaluation and User Testing) with 3 experts, unspecified number of students.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2026 journal from Journal of Information Systems and Informatics.
What should I do differently in my next project?: Before launching or updating any information system, conduct heuristic evaluations with usability experts and perform user testing with representative users, employing think-aloud protocols and standardized usability questionnaires.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on a single vocational high school, and the specific context of the 'Kurikulum Merdeka' may influence student search behaviors.