Web Usage Analysis

Often the usage logs are web logs, which are records of requests made to a Web server, usually (but not always) from users' browsers.

Information in a web log

Most servers record the following:

• Date and time of request
• File name and location
• IP number of machine issuing the request
• Web Browser
• Platform

Many servers also log the referring site of a page request.

Here's a sample log for the CTI Web site.

Here is some documentation that explains some of the fields in the log.

Analysis programs

Web analysis programs provide summary statistics from the Web logs. In class, we will review the functionality of the Analog log file analyzer.

Web Analytics

Web analytics (e.g. Google Analytics) is replacing web log analysis as the means for tracking user behavior on web sites. These tools provide more comprehensive information for how users are accessing a web site.

How it works

• Javascript code is added to each page to track usage
• The javascript code responds to page events (load, unload, link selection) and sends information to tracking server.
• The javascript code sets and accesses cookies to determine whether the user is new or a return user.
• An analyst accesses server to see tracking statistics and review reports.

Types of information

• How users got to the web site (referring information)
• What users accessed and order of access
• Where and when users left

Items for discussion

• What information does a Web log provide?
• What information don't web analytics tools provide?
• What user research objectives can web analytics tools achieve?