The effect of spatial arrangement, upper‐lower case letter combinations, and reverse video on patron response to CRT displayed catalog records

Using the paired comparison technique, each of 340 library patrons evaluated two versions of a single bibliographic record displayed on an ADDS Regent CRT. One display represented the standard, Library of Congress (LC) format, the other represented one of 15 variations in format of the same title. Both the sequence and selection of the two displays were randomized. The reaction time of the patrons to locating selected bibliographic elements and their ratings of the displays with respect to (a) readability, (b) logical arrangement of data, (c) pleasibility, and (d) overall preference were analyzed. Overall preference for a display was positively correlated with response time (rs = 0.67) for locating a specific field within the record. Analysis of variance indicated that preferences were primarily influenced by the spatial arrangement of the displays with both the side heading label and underlining being preferred over the LC forms. Generally, the patrons preferred the use of a combination of upper and lower case letters to the exclusive use of lower case letters only. Differences between upper and lower case letter combinations and upper case only letters were not statistically significant for all criterion variables. No statistical significance existed regarding black characters on a white background or the reverse situation.