[ARE SELECTED USABILITY PRINCIPLES VALID ACROSS DIFFERENT GENDER AND AGE GROUPS? A STUDY EMPLOYING QUANTITATIVE WEB USABILITY TESTING]

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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Abstract

This thesis is based on the topic of “Are selected usability principles valid across different gender and age groups? A study employing quantitative web usability testing” The first chapter provides an introduction to the topic including the purpose and significance of the study. The second chapter presents a review of relevant literature, highlighting the previous research carried out in this field. The third chapter covers the methodology for this study, followed by the analysis of findings and discussion in the fourth chapter. The fifth chapter concludes the dissertation, providing implications and useful recommendations for further research.

Table of Contents

ABSTRACT1

1. INTRODUCTION4

1.1. Background4

1.2. Problem Statement7

1.3. Purpose of Study8

1.4. Objectives of Study9

1.5. Rationale of Study10

1.6. Significance of Study13

2. LITERATURE REVIEW14

2.1. Web portals14

2.2. Overview of usability testing18

2.3. Traditional usability-testing process31

2.4. Laboratory configuration31

2.5. Web portal usability evaluation33

2.6. Web -based education for low-literate students34

2.7. Heuristic evaluation36

3. METHODOLOGY39

3.1. Development of low-literacy text39

3.2. Development of visuals40

3.3. Implementation of a prototype informative website for low-literate students41

3.4. Heuristic evaluation42

3.5. Usability test44

3.6. Scenario-guided user evaluation46

3.7. Guideline-based inspection49

3.7.1. Heuristic evaluation50

3.7.2. Usability testing51

4. RESULTS, DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION51

4.1. Heuristic evaluation52

4.1.1. Frequencies and signify severity rankings of heuristic violations52

4.1.2. Characteristics of violations and corresponding design solutions52

4.2. Usability test55

4.2.1. NICU students' demographics55

4.2.2. Task performance56

4.2.3. Participants' seen alleviate of use and utility and comments56

4.3. Data Analysis58

4.4. Discussion67

4.4.1. Heuristic evaluation67

4.4.2. Usability71

4.4.3. Specific design matters for low-literate users72

5. CONCLUSION75

5.1. Summary75

5.2. Implications77

5.3. Conclusion82

REFERENCES85

APPENDIX91

Are selected usability principles valid across different gender and age groups? A study employing quantitative web usability testing

1. Introduction

 

1.1. Background

 Usability testing and evaluation plays a fundamental function in human-centred design method, because it endows and helps design as asserted by usability engineering principles. As usability is characterised as a connection between task, user and system reason, there is no simple delineation or significant lone measure of usability. Commonly usability, a key concept in human-computer interaction (HCI), is associated to ease-of-use and ease-of-learning. Most assessment procedures are grouped into user-based procedures and usability examination methods. Current research on usability evaluation apparently explorations for procedures that make beneficial results for users and developers at a low-cost, possibly with the financial of assessment as the most important factor, cf. ([Hvannberg et al., 2007] and [Lewis, 2006]).

Thoughtful implementation of Web -based technologies for writing instruction presents multiple design and consignment choices for distance learning that supply optimal possibilities for student success. Likewise, such implementation and comprehending would boost an assessment of how teachers of writing can add to the currently established distance learning discussion with context-specific research in the ...