Introduction
In this study, we shall analyse survey responses to explore the demographics, engagement patterns, and preferences of Voyant Tools users. We examine how frequently users interact with the platform, their primary goals, and their desired features, alongside satisfaction levels and skill specific priorities. The findings highlight key metrics and provide valuable insights into user profiles and diverse applications, offering a foundation for targeted improvements and strategies to enhance user experience and expand the tool’s reach.
Voyant Tools, a powerful text analysis platform, supports a diverse audience, including researchers, educators, and learners. Understanding user engagement patterns and preferences is critical for its ongoing development and adoption. This article leverages survey data to uncover key insights, focusing on:
1. How users engage with Voyant Tools, including frequency and duration of use.
2. The primary goals and desired features of users.
3. Skill Specific feature priorities across varying levels of expertise.
4. User satisfaction and qualitative feedback to guide future enhancements.
By addressing these areas, the study aims to inform strategies for improving user experience and aligning Voyant Tools’ development with the needs of its community.
Frequency of Usage
The survey revealed varied usage patterns among respondents (Figure 1). A significant proportion of users engage with Voyant Tools weekly or on a project basis. Monthly users constituted a smaller group, indicating that many rely on the platform for regular, intensive use or specific research tasks.
Figure 1: Frequency of Voyant Tools Usage
Weekly: Regular engagement indicates the platform’s role in routine activities.
ProjectBased: Highlights the tool’s importance for researchspecific applications.
Monthly:
Primary Goals of Users
Users’ primary goals with Voyant Tools are diverse, as depicted in Figure 2. The most common objective is conducting text analysis for research, underscoring the platform’s academic focus. Teaching and training purposes also emerged as key drivers, reflecting its role in educational contexts. A smaller but notable group uses the tool for personal learning or hypothesis generation.
Figure 2: c
Conducting Text Analysis: Indicates the tool’s dominance in research.
Teaching/Training: Demonstrates its adaptability to classroom or workshop environments.
Learning and Hypotheses: Highlights its value in exploratory and conceptual work.
Duration of Usage
The duration of user engagement provides insights into the platform’s user retention and adoption trends (Figure 3). Most respondents reported using Voyant Tools for over a year, reflecting sustained interest and loyalty. Newer users (3–6 months or 6 months–1 year) form a significant group, suggesting a steady influx of adopters.
Figure 3: Duration of Voyant Tools Usage
Over a Year: Demonstrates strong retention among long term users.
6 Months–1 Year: Represents a growing user base.
3–6 Months: Highlights recent adopters, signaling successful outreach efforts.
Discussion
The data underscores Voyant Tools’ versatility in supporting diverse user goals, from research to teaching. The high retention rate indicates user satisfaction, while the steady influx of new users highlights successful onboarding strategies. However, periodic users represent an opportunity for engagement through targeted campaigns and resource development.
User Satisfaction
The majority of respondents expressed satisfaction with Voyant Tools (Figure 4). “Very satisfied” users constitute a substantial portion, reflecting strong overall performance. However, openended feedback highlights areas for improvement.
Figure 4: User Satisfaction Levels
Very Satisfied: Dominant sentiment.
Satisfied: Indicates room for enhancements.
Neutral/Dissatisfied: Minimal but valuable for understanding gaps.
Specific Feature Priorities
A heatmap of feature priorities by skill level (Figure 5) reveals nuanced preferences. Advanced users prioritize network analysis and linguistic tools, while beginners focus on ease of use and foundational analysis features.
Figure 5: Priority Features by Skill Level
Advanced Users: Seek technical and detailed features.
Beginners: Need intuitive and userfriendly functionalities.
Intermediate Users: Represent a bridge, balancing depth and usability.
Multilingual Support
The cluster analysis
The cluster analysis of feedback responses is visualised using word clouds for each cluster. A word cloud (Figure 6) highlights recurring themes across user feedback. Prominent topics include:
Ease of Use: Users frequently emphasise the importance of an intuitive interface and seamless navigation.
Visualisation Improvements: Suggestions for enhanced visualisation capabilities, including interactive and customisable graphs, stand out.
Integration Capabilities: Many users request better integration with tools like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and learning management systems.
1. Cluster 1: Focuses on ease of use, suggesting interface improvements.
2. Cluster 2: Highlights demand for visualisation and analysis enhancements.
3. Cluster 3: Emphasises multilingual support and inclusivity features.
4. Cluster 4: Contains feedback on integration with other tools and advanced functionalities.
Interest in Spyral Workshops or Webinars
The survey responses reveal notable insights regarding user interest in Spyral workshops or webinars. A significant portion of respondents expressed enthusiasm for skill-building opportunities, underscoring a clear demand for structured educational resources. This interest reflects the growing importance of Spyral in complementing the functionalities of Voyant Tools, particularly for users seeking to deepen their expertise in text analysis.
Conclusion
This analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of how users engage with Voyant Tools, offering actionable insights into user preferences and priorities. High satisfaction levels affirm the platform’s effectiveness, yet feedback highlights opportunities for refinement. Addressing the distinct needs of regular, project-based, and occasional users, along with tailoring enhancements for different skill levels, can foster broader adoption and deeper engagement.
Key areas for future development include prioritising user-requested features such as advanced visualisation tools, integrations, and multilingual support. Inclusivity and accessibility remain critical, ensuring the platform serves diverse user groups effectively. Expanding resources for training and support will further empower users and enhance confidence in using Voyant Tools.