Clients
Bedford/St. Martin's Website (Spring 2005-Fall 2005)
The Usability Research Laboratory (URL) staff conducted usability testing of the Bedford/St. Martin's Web site. This study targeted college instructors in the soft sciences who selected textbooks for course curriculums. The first phase tested a wireframe prototype to uncover usability issues with the design and navigation. The second phase tested a fully functional website for usability problems with content and structure. Information from this study helped web designers at Bedford/St. Martin's improve the Web site and user experience, leading to increased book sales.
TTU Library Website (Fall 2004-Spring 2005)
The URL staff conducted usability testing of the Texas Tech University Library Web site to identify usability issues with navigation, terminology, and design. Testing targeted the novice undergraduate student user to determine how users commonly approach tasks associated with library research. This on-going study has helped web designers create a prototype that will better orient new students to the Texas Tech University Library system.
TTU Expectant Mothers Website (Fall 2004)
Undergraduate usability students conducted tests on the Texas Tech Students for Life - Expectant Mothers Web site. The Expectant Mothers Web site provides resources for students who were pregnant and/or had young children and wanted to continue their studies. Usability testing identified key problems with design and layout, navigation, and content structure. Information from this study helped web designers with Texas Tech Students for Life improve the user experience. A new Web site design is currently under development.
Wadsworth’s InSite Courseware (Fall 2004)
The URL staff conducted tests on InSite courseware to identify usability issues with navigation, terminology, functionality, and design. This study targeted the user experience of instructors to uncover problems encountered during course setup. Information from this study helped software designers improve the interface, navigational structure, and help content for task support for its next software release.
ICON Textbooks (Spring 2004)
Undergraduate usability students and composition staff members conducted tests on the first-year writing program’s textbooks to examine how students used the sections on grammar instruction. Following the tests, the 4 sections of the book were revised into 12 more focused lessons.
ICON/TOPIC Interface Design (Spring 2003, Spring 2004-Fall 2004)
Both undergraduate and graduate usability students have conducted usability tests of the Department of English’s Interactive Composition Online (ICON)/Texas Tech University Online Print-Integrated Curriculum (TOPIC). Usability testing of the ICON/TOPIC interface has helped improve interface design features and website navigation, creating a more positive user experience for composition students, instructors, and administrators.
Double-T Bookstore Website (Fall 2003)
Graduate students conducted testing of the Double-T Bookstore website to identify usability issues with navigation, terminology, and design. The testing targeted the undergraduate student user to uncover problems encountered during the book ordering process. Information from this study helped web designers develop content for novice users to support completing book orders.
Motive Inc. Server Software Installation Guide (Fall 2003)
Texas Tech University students and Motive Inc. collaborated in the testing of the Motive System Installation Guide. This test uncovered usability issues with the printed manual and the installation wizard. To carry out the test, students recruited IT administrators to evaluate the manual’s architecture diagrams, terminology, and procedural instructions as well as how well information carried over in the wizard. The testing of the Motive System Installation Guide helped Motive’s technical writers identify content problems to be revised in its next product release.
TEKS/TAKS Website (Fall 2003)
Graduate students enrolled in ENGL 5388 Usability Testing partnered with the Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences to improve its Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) Web site, which provides educational standards and requirements for teachers in the state of Texas. Testing targeted the novice user experience and identified usability issues with navigation, terminology, and design. This test helped uncover usability problems a new teacher encounters in using the site, allowing the web designers to tailor content for the novice user.
Other Research Conducted in the Lab
While the URL is designed primarily for usability testing, the facilities also provide data collection and recording equipment. Several researchers have used the lab to collect data for their dissertations or for post-doctoral research. The lab specifically lends itself to research involving technology use, such as in studies by English graduate students Jennifer Bowie and Mialisa Hubbard. Bowie’s research investigates the ways in which people of different gender navigate Web sites, and Hubbard’s research investigates technology skill levels of Technical Communication majors. Both researches used the computers and the screen scan-converters to record participants' interactions with technology.
Additionally, researchers with the Department of Education have utilized the URL facilities to collect data in similar ways. Brian Smith, a former professor, investigated the ways in which ESL (English as a Second Language) students communicated in online instructional environments by using a think-aloud protocol to describe language interpretations. Hui-Hui Chen, a graduate student, used the lab to capture students’ interactions with an instructional Web site and online learning tools that she created. This study was part of her dissertation research on instructional design.