Information Technology and Telecommunications Services

Usability Testing Participants

The best way to find out if a new web site design is doing what it is suppose to do is to conduct usability testing with members of the actual audiences the web site is trying to reach. FSU’s audiences include prospective students, current students, University faculty and staff, alumni and donors, and community and visitors. Several usability tests will be conducted throughout the redesign process with different user audiences. Task lists/questionnaires are designed specifically for each of the user audiences.

Methodology 

Testing will be done individually, with a participant and an observer who will administer the test. The observers will take notes on the participants’ responses to the testing, as well as observations on how the participants complete the tasks. While the observer may know the identity of the participant, the notes will not identify the participant except by user audience and number (ie prospective student #1, current student #2, etc). The data will be collected for evaluation by the redesign project team as they examine the functionality of FSU’s new web site and any changes that may need to be made in order to achieve a greater level of user-friendliness.

Final Evaluation and Reporting

At the completion of the usability testing, the data will be compiled and used by the web site project team to refine the new web site. It may also be used in various reports and communications regarding the redesign project. However, the identity of the volunteers will be protected and reports and communications regarding the redesign of the web site will only contain general statements regarding the results of the usability testing. Any references to individual participants will be by their assigned number (ie future student #1).

This Usability Testing Guide was inspired by Southeastern Louisiana University's Usability Testing Guide