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Usability Study on the Subject Pages

• Goal: To help beginning researchers find resources in their field
• Subjects: 8 Undergrads, 2 Grads, and 1 Professor
• Tasks: Use the subject pages to find resources for typical assignments
  • For Undergrad: You are in Psych 101, find a resource
    See full list
  • For Experts: Advanced task appropriate to field
    See full list: History | Forestry

• Replaced Subject Hierarchy with Two-Column A-Z List
  • Hierarchy | A-Z List
• Added Highlighted Resources to Each Subject Page
  • Without Highlighted Resources
  • With Highlighted Resources
• Changed 'By Subject' to 'Browse Subjects'

1. Users Prefer A-Z List Over Hierarchy
   • Users found it relatively easy to scan a long list for a specific subject
     video: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
     
     • They are accustomed to scanning link lists for the word they want
   • They found it difficult to choose at the top level of the hierarchy
     video: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
     • They were uncertain where they might find their specific subject
2. Users Succeeded When Using Highlighted Resources
   • Users found pertinent information more efficiently and happily
     video: 1 | 2 | 3
     • Even outside their field of expertise
       video: 1
   • Users found a higher quality of information more frequently
     video: 1 | 2 | 3
   • Users experienced less frustration and confusion when using highlighted resources
     • Users trusted they were on right path
       video: 1 | 2 | 3
3. Users Are More Likely to Use ‘Best Bets’ Than ‘Core Resources’
   • Many users didn’t notice the ‘Core Resources’
     video: 1 | 2
     • These users were often those in most need of research guidance – the target audience for the highlighted resources
     • They struggled while reading descriptions on the ‘Finding Articles’ pages – with mixed results
       video: 1 | 2 | 3
   • Changes were made part way through the usability study
     • Best Bets’ replaced ‘Core Resources’
       video: 1
     • Stars were used to mark ‘Best Bets’
       video: 1
   • Users were more likely to click on ‘Best Bets’ because of the user-friendly heading and visual prominence
     video: 1 | 2
4. Changes Did Not Adversely Affect Experienced Users
   • Experienced researchers preferred established research routines
     video: 1 | 2 | 3
     • Used bookmarks instead of Subject pages
   • Experienced researchers were not distracted by highlighted resources
   • When outside of their field, experienced researchers found the highlighted resources to be helpful
     video: 1
5. Users Slightly Preferred ‘Browse Subjects’ to ‘By Subject’
   • Users were familiar with ‘Browse’
     • This verb, commonly used on Web, made the action of the link more obvious
       video: 1
   • Wording made it clear that they were browsing outside of the UW Catalog
     • No confusion with keyword search, LC Subject
   • These opinions were not particularly strong
     video: 1

• Replace Hierarchy with A-Z List
• Add Highlighted Resources to Each Subject Page
• Use ‘Best Bets’ and Star Icon to Mark These Resources
• Consider Changing ‘By Subject’ to ‘Browse Subjects’