An Analysis of the Visual Complexity on Academic Library Websites Based on Berlyne’s Complexity Theory

Computational aesthetics is a field that combines science and art to explore aesthetic measurement, generative art, and design generation using computational methods. In the context of university library websites, adhering to aesthetic standards, particularly focusing on "moderate visual complexity," could enhance their visibility online (according to some previous studies). This research, analyzed ۸۲ university library websites, including top international and Iranian academic libraries, to assess visual complexity based on Berlyne's theory of stimulus complexity using the Athec Python library. The study found that international university libraries have a complexity of over ۰.۵۷, while Iranian academic libraries lack the minimum complexity needed to motivate users. Moreover, the study found significant differences between the library websites of top Iranian and international universities. The linear regression statistic test was used to analyze the relationship between the visual complexity of academic library websites and the rank of the university, revealing a significant difference for the ۴۱ top Iranian universities but not for the ۴۱ top international universities. The Beta coefficient of linear regression between the visual complexity of academic library websites and the rank of the university is -۰.۵۰۲, and Sig=۰.۰۰۱, obtained for the top Iranian universities. On the other hand, the Beta coefficient of linear regression between the visual complexity of academic library websites and the ranks of the university is -۰.۰۶۲, and Sig=۰.۷۰۱, obtained for top international universities. This research highlights the innovation of connecting Berlyne’s theory of stimulus complexity with Python programming, providing a new perspective for university library website managers.

Keywords:

Computational Aesthetics , University Libraries , Aesthetic perception , Human computer interaction , User Experience