UsabilityCluster/MonthlyMeeting/2017-03-01 MeetingNotes

From Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP)

Attendees: Tamar Norkin, Shannon Rauch, Reid Boehm, Madison Langseth, Sophie Hou


1. Continuing to define personas and data archive/repository service areas that could benefit from usability evaluations

  • Notes:
  • Reid might have a use case (Rmap) that could be used for this activity, and if the timing is appropriate, we could aim to showcase Reid's use case at Summer Meeting.
  • Types of roles/personas:
  • Producer (P)
  • An entity that submits data to an archive/repository.
  • User (U)
  • An entity that applies data from the archive/repository to other purposes.
  • Assessor (A)
  • An entity that reviews data from the archive/repository to determine the performance of the archive/repository.
  • Data archive/repository operator (O)
  • An entity that works with data in the archive/repository to manage/sustain the archive/repository.
  • Areas:
  • Home page - PUAO
  • Search - UAO
  • Searching for data using a geospatial/map interface - UAO
  • Browse - UAO
  • Data ingest forms, including metadata input (initial information) - PO
  • Metadata development (tools for editing, updating, managing, and curating metadata) - PO
  • Adding new components to a pre-existing user interface - O(PAU)
  • Help documents - PU
  • Registration to a site or service - PU
  • Downloading data (accessing data) - U(A)
  • Access to an identified resource (e.g. dataset, software, etc) - U(A)
  • Note:
  • This is different from item x; item x is intended for the actual process/steps for obtaining the resource, the item xi is intended for locating the access point.
  • Would users prefer to get the resource directly from the page or be directed to another website/locate? What happens when the files are too large to include right on the same page?
  • Dataset landing page; Collection landing page - U
  • Contact request forms and such (i.e., asking for help on something) - PU
  • Policies/Terms and Conditions/Rights/Licensing Information - PU
  • Additional Notes:
  • Possibilities for next steps:
  • Write out definitions for the areas. (Possibly in the form of a matrix)
  • Solicit use cases.
  • Present it to other ESIP groups (Summer)
  • A poster or a session?


2. Discussion of developing a usability test framework

  • Notes:
  • Introduction
  • Purpose of the test
  • Terms and conditions
  • Pre-test survey (Use example questions from DataONE survey and other member’s surveys.)
  • Demographic information
  • Domain/Area of Study
  • Motivation
  • Reasons/Interests in the system-under-test
  • Experience with the system-under-test
  • Expectation with the system-under-test
  • Usability test itself
  • Length of the test
  • Tasks (appropriate to the length of the test)
  • Up to 30 minutes: 3 tasks
  • 30 minutes - 1 hour: 5 tasks
  • More than an hour and up to 90 minutes (more than 90 minutes is not recommended): 7 tasks
  • Definitions of tasks:
  • Guidelines/recommendations regarding how to develop the tasks.
  • Guidelines/recommendations regarding how the test administrators could interact with the user.
  • E.g. staying unbiased, help asking questions to help users in thinking out loud, try not to distract users.
  • Would be determined based on the system-under-test and the areas needing evaluations.
  • Post-test reflection
  • Guidelines/recommendations regarding how to “interview” the users.
  • Information to invite users to participate in further activities/follow ups and to receive updates.