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Observation & Usability

Chapter 5 Sharla Carpenter, Wynter Myers, Regina Reynolds, Deedra Totten, Stephanie Vap, Fran Varella. Observation & Usability. Finding a Topic: Observation. Participant Observation Natural Environment Reactive Observation Controlled Setting Unobstrusive Observation

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Observation & Usability

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  1. Chapter 5 Sharla Carpenter, Wynter Myers, Regina Reynolds, Deedra Totten, Stephanie Vap, Fran Varella. Observation & Usability

  2. Finding a Topic: Observation • ParticipantObservation Natural Environment • Reactive Observation Controlled Setting • UnobstrusiveObservation Naturalistic Observation • Unobstrusive methods measure reference transactions • Analyze patron or librarian behaviors in the library • Examine patrons’ use of resources or tools TYPES FOCUS OF STUDIES

  3. Finding a Topic: Usability TYPES: • Exploratory: • Conducted in early stages • Assessment: • Conducted halfway • Verification: • Conducted in the final stages • Comparison: • Not dependent on stage

  4. Observation Questions • Focus on how individuals do something, how well, how frequently and in what ways • Explore behavior and what people do in specific situations • Help gain better understanding of population • Discover user practices and actions – Help extend common knowledge base

  5. Usability Questions • Focused on practical ways to fix problems; designing or redesigning products • Features problem statements that are testable • Moves the broader question to smaller, task focused questions • Usability questions lead to further problem solving questions

  6. Defining the population within an observation and usability research study Observation styles – • participant: observation in a natural environment over an extended time frame • reactive: participants within a very controlled study environment with a short duration time frame • unobtrusive: observation of participants in natural environment without their awareness Participant sampling formats - • event sampling : participants are observed in a given activity and the how, when, where is monitored. • time sampling : participants are observed in given activity for a predetermined duration of time.

  7. Usability- • sample size: population controls that will vary upon the observational study required. • typical user style: creating baseline profiles with the research study in mind as to guide researcher in the proper recruitment and selection of the participant pool. • Participant skill level: the wider the variety of skill levels within participant group, the more accurate and reliable data gathered • Demographic information: accurate information on participants involved will validate results reporting

  8. Selecting A Research Design • Observation/Usability Study • Basic Elements • Develop problem statements or objectives • Using representative sample users that don’t need to be random • Using testing tasks that represent the actual workings of the product • Controlled observation & questioning of participants • Collecting both quantitative and qualitative data to measure product performance and user performance

  9. Selecting A Research Design (Cont.) • Tests employed • Usefulness • Time on Task • Ease of use • Accuracy • Ease of learning • Recall Skills • Satisfaction level • Emotional Response to Tasks • Things to Remember • Keep user in mind • Keep tests simple but elegant • Usability is about improving performance through design • Refine design and then retest

  10. Gathering Datain Observation Studies • Record participants’ behaviors • Coding Plan • clearly defined • Codebooks • Written descriptions of events to be observed/recorded • Should describe any rules and provide any instructions to researchers • Incorporate any preexisting, external coding systems • Researchers can develop their own coding and analysis schemes • Rely on the coding during the analysis phase

  11. Gathering Datain Usability Studies • Rigid in data collection procedures • Data collection procedures • Intake demographic survey • Series of tasks • Debriefing session • Can also include: think-aloud protocols, screen capture programs, worksheets, etc. • Types of Tests • Card Sort Method • Focus Groups • Prototypes • Individual Interview • Usability tasks

  12. Observation Frequencies Percentages Mean event duration Usability Specify a level of success Identify user error/confusion Pinpoint & prioritize problems Interpreting the Evidence

  13. Telling the Story Observation & Usability Traditional style: 1. Describe problem/posed question(s) 2. Literature review 3. Methods 4. Report findings 5. Make recommendations

  14. Telling the Story Observation & Usability • Visualizing findings • Limitations & problems Usability Exclusive *-- Test instruments

  15. Key Points • Focus on your end user • Observation is part of the methodology • Usability is a broad view that results from mixed methods • Observation focuses on behavior, usability is product-driven

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