jljw03

P3: User Testing | For Students and Researchers
Group 2: Jeanna LeClair and Jessica Wang


 * Project Brief**
 * We are students from York University who are working on improving the Canadian Art Database for the Centre of Contemporary Canadian Artwork web site. We are aiming to provide students and researchers with a new platform to organize research files online. In order to improve the website, we are going to show you a prototype web site where you will be asked to perform two tasks. We are checking our work to see if the functions are properly developed and can be actually beneficial to you. In no way are we testing your abilities but rather testing our web site and looking for ways to improve its usability.


 * Possible Test Goals:**
 * Examine the effectiveness of the site navigation system
 * Analyze the efficiency of the search / create new pile functions
 * Easiness to recognize icon/labeling/analogy of the platform branding

Jeanna

 * DECIDE Framework**


 * Test Script**

Jessica

 * DECIDE Framework**
 * 1) The purpose of the test is to figure out whether the search function is an efficient way to look for things in user's collection. The user test would help in contributing to pinpoint the weaknesses of the website. It is important to get user input on the development of the function so that it becomes an actual benefit to them. In addition, the metaphor of the icons/labeling should be easy-to-understand for the users.
 * 2) Do users understand the naming of things? Is it easy for users to search for things within their research collection? Does any part of the function cause confusion? Is the information design effective?
 * 3) It would be the best to use a structured method as specific functions/areas of the prototype website is being tested. It is unnecessary for users to explore parts that is relatively unrelated to what we are testing for. By giving the user specific tasks to do would be a more efficient way to conduct the test.
 * 4) Computer, with external mouse perhaps, in a quiet environment. Firefox or Safari could be used for browsing the web site, and javascript needs to be enabled. Operating system could be Windows or Mac OS, however some users may only be comfortable using only one or the other.
 * 5) Users may be concerned of the personal information and the linkage of their test result. To address this issue, a consent form will be signed by both parties before the test, agreeing that all information and will be kept anonymous, and the result will only be used to improve the prototype web site. Also, participants have the right to stop the test at any time during the test.
 * 6) The major strengths and weaknesses will be analyzed after the user tests.


 * Test Script**
 * You are a student researching on posters for a project. You have already collected some artworks from the CCCA web site and your task is to find all the red posters.
 * To test whether it is easy to find the desired results from user input in the search bar.
 * To determine contributions of the visual layout to this task
 * Now place them into pre-existing piles.
 * To test if the labeling/grouping of the search results are efficient
 * To see if there's any difficulty in organizing artworks after search

User Test Report
[|3005W09_jljw_UserTestReport.pdf]