Efficiency of Information Retrieval from the Electronic and the Printed Versions of a Bilingual Dictionary

• SHIZUKA Tetsuhito

  Kansai University

Abstract

This paper reports on a study that compared electronic and printed dictionaries in terms of empirical and perceived efficiency of meaning and example retrieval. Seventy-seven university students took a speed test that measured efficiency with which word meanings (Part 1) and examples (Part 2) were accessed. The participants used electronic or printed versions of the same English-Japanese dictionary. A post-experiment survey explored participants' perception of the two dictionary types. Participants' pre-experiment familiarity with electronic and printed dictionaries was also examined. Multiple regression models were fit in search of meaningful relationships between the variables. The results indicated that (1) in identifying word meanings. e-dictionaries were markedly more efficient; (2) this advantage was multiplied by the users'familiarity with e-dictionaries: (3) in accessing examples, there was no significant difference between the two dictionary types; and (4) participants overwhelmingly preferred e-dictionaries. The paper concludes with an argument that in light of much less degree of reluctance to use e-dictionaries, the electronic-printed gap in real-life use frequency is expected to be larger than was observed by the speed test in this study.

Journal

• Language Education & Technology

  Language Education & Technology 40 (0), 15-33, 2003

  The Japan Association for Language Education and Technology

Details

• CRID: 1390282681033400704
• NII Article ID: 110008450814
• DOI: 10.24539/let.40.0_15
• ISSN: 21857814
• ISSN: 21857792
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed