The concept of the cluster would be working if the user goes on to explore journals not normally accessed. We also expect there to be differences between the clusters. 3.2 Initial Usage and Changing Patterns of Usage Initial usage depends upon the user learning sufficient about the application to consider it worthy of examining and thereafter deciding that it passes the tests of relevant content and access to make repeat usage worthwhile. None of the hypotheses suggest that the functions and features offered by the application are of particular significance at this stage. Initial Usage and Changing Patterns of Use Initial use of the application will result from the awareness generated by local site promotion.
New users continue to register and to become repeat users in both the initial sites and at new ones.
The process by which news spreads and awareness grows may well involve other factors such as communications within the user community. The information environment within which the user operates serves both to provide the infrastructure for the SuperJournal application and to offer alternative ways in which the user can access journals. The environment provides the conditions for the user to assess whether access makes it worthwhile using SuperJournal. Access has many dimensions and some of them may lead to differences in usage patterns, e.g. early warning through alerting services may lead to regular use, access to journals not held in the library might encourage preferential use of these journals. The application provides may functions and features which may offer value to the user or may cause problems in its use.