There's a lot of resistance in my institution to A/B or multivariate testing any of our live production properties (catalog, website, etc...). I've espoused the virtues of having hard data to back up user activity (if I hear one more "well, in my opinion", I'll just go blind), but the reply is always along the lines of, "But it will confuse users!" I've pointed out the myriad successful and critical business that use these methodologies, but was told that businesses and academia are different.
So, my question to you is, which of you academic libraries are using A/B testing; on what potion of your web properties (catalog, discovery interface, website, etc...); and I suppose to spark conversation, which testing suite are you using (Google Website Optimizer, Visual Website Optimizer, a home-rolled non-hosted solution)? I was told if I can prove it's a commonly accepted practice, I can move forward. So help a guy out, and save me from having to read another survey of 12 undergrads that is "proof positive" of changes I need to make. Thanks! *Sean Moore* Web Application Programmer *Phone*: (504) 314-7784 *Email*: cmoo...@tulane.edu Howard-Tilton Memorial Library <http://library.tulane.edu>, Tulane University
