Webmasters Roundtable Tools, Standards & Usability

Darlene Fichter

Greg Notess

Frank Cervone

University of Saskatchewan Library

Montana State University

Northwestern University

Usability testing

► Preference testing► Cognitive Walkthrough► Forms and workflow

Cognitive walkthrough

► Performed by development team► Collective walkthrough of site► Assessment of whether the user has

the information to confidently make the next right action

At each step ask

1. Will the users understand what is presented?

2. Is the next action/choice visible to them?

3. Will they know that the choice is correct?

4. If they make the choice, will they understand the response?

What’s required

► Detailed description of the system► Prototype

– Location of items on the screen and wording should be filled in

► Representative tasks– Complete list of steps that need to be taken to

complete the task

► Indication of the user type and experience

Document the problems

A recorder should note problems on the detailed task sheet:– By step in the task– Give a description of the problem– Note the severity

Where to put help on Web forms?

► Excellent studies► One looks at the registration form for

the WinWriter’s conference► Do people use help and where is it best

placed?

What They Tested

1. Page Level - directions in a left hand column

2. Field Level - [Help] after each field with the directions popping up in a window or side frame

3. Field Level - field name was a hyperlink

4. Embedded – domain level at the top and included by field

What They Learned

► The report of the study is at

http://www.winwriters.com/usability_test_analysis.htm

► Links to reports & studies http://library.usask.ca/~fichter/