Usage Log Analysis

Often the usage logs are web logs, which are records of requests made toa 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

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.

Items for discussion

• What information does a Web log provide?
• What can be done to obtain more information from the logs?
• What kinds of user research questions can log analysis provide?
• How reliable is log analysis?
• What technologies would support a better analysis of web usage?