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This paper presents the methodology of a research project on the use of specialised German dictionaries. A mixed-methods research approach will help to answer the following main questions, concerning the lexicographic presentation of the data on the one hand and the data collection on the other hand: How do different systems of data organization and presentation affect the likelihood that users will correctly find and select the data they look up? And does the probability of success increase if users are familiar with the system? Which advantages and disadvantages do lexicographers and specialised languages experts see in using quantitative methods to extract terms? And are these methods accepted and considered reliable by the user community?
Many studies on dictionary use presuppose that users do indeed consult lexicographic resources. However, little is known about what users actually do when they try to solve language problems on their own. We present an observation study where learners of German were allowed to browse the web freely while correcting erroneous German sentences. In this paper, we are focusing on the multi-methodological approach of the study, especially the interplay between quantitative and qualitative approaches. In one example study, we will show how the analysis of verbal protocols, the correction task and the screen recordings can reveal the effects of intuition, language (learning) awareness, and determination on the accuracy of the corrections. In another example study, we will show how preconceived hypotheses about the problem at hand might hinder participants from arriving at the correct solution.
Dictionary usage research is a topic of increasing importance within the field of lexicography. At the beginning of the new millennium, the dictionary user was still relatively unknown. However, in the last ten years, more and more user studies have been published. Consequently, methods, data and the conclusions which can be drawn were successively refined. Also, new possibilities of web-based data collection, e.g., the analysis of log files, enriched this field of research. This contribution aims to describe the state of the art in dictionary usage research in the digital era. I begin by providing a short overview of methodological and terminological basics and then place a special focus on three different methods of collecting empirical data on dictionary use: online questionnaires, eye tracking and the analysis of log-files. All these methods are illustrated on user studies conducted at the Institute for the German Language in Mannheim.
Der folgende Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit Fragen der strukturellen Konzipierung des ersten deutschrussischen Neologismenwörterbuches, das den neuen Wortschatz im Deutschen für den russischsprachigen Nutzer umfassend beschreiben wird. Den Hintergrund für die konzeptionellen Überlegungen bildet das 2004 veröffentlichte Wörterbuch für die Neologismen der 90er Jahre im Deutschen, das seit 2006 online ist und weitergeführt wird. Mittels einer Umfrage unter russischen Wörterbuchbenutzern zu Bedarf und Nutzungsverhalten wurde versucht, das Benutzerinteresse zu eruieren und zu klassifizieren. Anhand der verschiedenen Funktionen, die ein deutsch-russisches Neologismenwörterbuch erfüllen kann, wird ein Konzept für die Mikrostruktur besonders in Bezug auf die Bedeutungserklärung und Äquivalenz entworfen.
This chapter summarizes the typical steps of an empirical investigation. Every step is illustrated using examples from our research project into online dictionary use or other relevant studies. This chapter does not claim to contain anything new, but presents a brief guideline for lexicographical researchers who are interested in conducting their own empirical research.