Usability Study on the Subject Pages
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Usability Study Method
- 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
Subject Page Changes
- Replaced Subject Hierarchy with Two-Column A-Z List
- Added Highlighted Resources to Each Subject Page
- Changed 'By Subject' to 'Browse Subjects'
Major Findings
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Recommendations
- 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’
libuse@u.washington.edu
Last modified: Tuesday October 18, 2005
