Usability Evaluation - Essay Example

Usability Evaluation An online survey provides place where people can share their opinions and ideas. The internet has provided anonymity and the ease of use that help customers to speak freely. In addition, setting up the effective online survey is not required to be very expensive and complicated. In fact, it should cost only time of the participants. It is enough for asking a certain group of people questions about what they think about different views (Wainer & Braun, 2013). While writing survey questions, there are three issues needed to consider types of questions, wording of questions and order of questions. Questions, for instance can be open ended or closed. This is where the participants are requested to write a response (open ended) or even select from a defined set of possible answers (closed). In survey and questionnaire, most of the questions should be closed because survey goes more quickly and there is no chance that the participant will become tied down answering one question leaving the remaining questions in the survey. By making each question brief, the respondent will not lose focus on the question that will provide the answers needed. If choices for answers are provided, ensure that option will not give the respondent confusion as to how the question was delivered and understood so that exact the answer is met. Instructions should be provided before answering the survey. The respondents should know the objective in conducting the survey. Moreover, creating an online questionnaire is professional. Therefore, the respondents should take questions more seriously if it is presented in a more professional manner. To create online survey, it is also very important that each question have to be evaluated in gathering the information that is required and to lead the wording response option so that the goal in conducting the survey is achieved (Sue & Ritter, 2007).   Assess the reliability of the collected data and include the survey report. It is important to assess critically the current methods that help to find the best quality of data collected except in exceptional situations. The adequate degree of reliability is attained when the scores are represented correctly in a constructive and quality manner using investigations that significantly shows the validity of that data. Validity of the collected data is mostly examined using investigated sources and the systematic variations that are observed regularly. There are two broad criteria that data quality can be identified. The responses from the sources must be meaningful. This means that, the researchers collecting data should reflect something other than a random checking of alternatives. This implies that the responses should reflect on a true assessment of particular behavior such as frequency of purchase and true assessment of some personal characteristic such as, dogmatism, attitudes, and brand loyalty. The main idea is typically thought to be the degree of reliability in relation to the responses (Sue & Ritter, 2007). In addition to this, there should be good indicator of the phenomenon of interest. This is given as the adequate degree of reliability that has been achieved. With this response, one should demonstrate that the scores are an adequate representation of the construct and quality under investigation. The issue of validity is examined by investigating the sources of the systematic variation that is observed to be predictive, content, and constructive. Reliability of data is necessary but is not sufficient for validity. However, there is emphasis on this unique problems associated with the assessing the meaningfulness of responses to the non-scaled measures. Eventually, the most frequently used by researchers has received relatively low attention to the while based on research, data has been affected intensely by the degree of reliability that is associated with data. Unreliability creates space for questioning the response. This therefore causes judgment that is based on the provisional extent. Lower reliability of the responses causes more judgments that are uncertain and decisions to more extreme cases (Sue & Ritter, 2007). Assess the validity of the collected data and include the survey report. It is human nature to judge people and situations. Most of the judgments that are unconscious may result into false beliefs or misunderstandings. The collected data from the formative assessments is required that it should be valid. It must assess what it claims to assess, and the information must be reliable. Valid assessments accurately target specific skills, strategies, and knowledge. The chances of inaccurate assessment are ineffective decision making at all over levels clearly increase. Reliable information is consistent and typical. For assessment, data help a teacher to draw attention in conclusion to be valid. It is important that collected data is reliable and describing something usual. Researchers describe the process towards being used to draw conclusion from the collected information. The carefully collected data is taken into consideration where information such as about students is derived from a formative assessment that is taken and the time for planning is the most effective. This type of assessment is the most effective and therefore it has helped most students learn (Wainer & Braun, 2013). Evaluate the usability of the online questionnaire Website. Research in software usability is rapidly expanding in our day-to-day evaluation, based on the idea that usable software products increase user satisfaction, effectiveness, and efficiency by allowing the improvement of quality products and a simultaneous reduction and maintenance that support costs. Usability refers to the information system that is used with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. Only the specified users achieve some specific goals in a particular context of use. Methodologies for software development need to take advantage of users who are centered in designing different approaches that provides greater attention to the required information. Limitations towards the users at every stage of designing process is relatively recent to the trends in web applications that is directly related to most of internet applications support and further enrichment of the interactivity of web applications and bridging the huge gap between web-based and standing desktop applications (Wainer & Braun, 2013). The new technologies development has caused rapid changes to occur very frequently, even without the chance to re-examine the entire web site. With this context, the possible audience for the web system is mainly geographically dispersed. It encompasses the broader range of demographic groups and the new software development framework that has changed the users’ interaction model using the application of its usability approach. This tends to be less relevant and not cost effective usability evaluation that is characterized by the separation in space and time among for the evaluators and the respondents in the emerging field. The aim of this is to provide a comprehensive and critical survey of the current usability evaluation of different methods and using different tools (Wainer & Braun, 2013). The attached Survey Questions 1. What user interface interaction style is appropriate for online learning among students? Learner-to-Learner Interaction Learner-to-Content Interaction. Learner-to-Instructor Interaction All the above The range at which the quality of information is available to all students in most of the academic users has increased in the recent years. For this reason, it is possible for individuals to suffer from information overload ad may get lost in the cyberspace while trying to locate relevant information. Therefore, there is relevance of cognitive styles and software agents in the human computer interaction and interface design. A student should have a cognitive profile that helps the individual to develop their learning skills and strategies. When there is a combination of prior knowledge of individuals and the appropriate cognitive styles, the technical solutions offer the adaptive and intelligent interfaces that suggest the way forward with respect to their problems and information overload experienced while using the Web. The most appropriate application of a particular view of cognitive styles to information handling and interface design is considered. 2. What is the most appropriate data-gathering technique? the exploration of official data and records personal records corporate data the arts the media Data collection applications are wide and varied with different methods of collecting data better than the rest. Surveying mainly involves gathering information from different sources using questionnaires. Surveys should reach a large number of respondents. Additionally, designing the survey instruments is capable of generating credible data as every method has advantages and disadvantages that are weighed up in view of the rich and complex contexts. 3. How can product evaluation be conducted effectively using a formal framework? How it meets it goals. Facilitating all the management Providing data and verifying results Examining and describing programs for duplication Providing valid comparisons between programs All the above. Assessment is the continuous review process that is of quality improvement. The primary responsibility of continuous assessment, reporting and analysis considers innovation flexibility and risk-taking very positively. Additionally, programs should be assessed against their own goals and objectives, by taking into account the fiscal resources and other granting mechanisms. Consequently, review and evaluation would use the retrospective measurements of the achievements within a certain period. This information will therefore be used to make recommendations for the future. 4. What methods are used to facilitate the use of technological and informational resources to investigate the human-computer interaction process? Freedom to protect privacy policy Ensures the privacy and security of citizens Promoting public trust in government Designing strategic infrastructure Most technological innovations rely on the User Interface Design to elevate the technical complexity of the usable products. Technology alone could not be able to win the user acceptance and successive marketability. Therefore, this is where User Interface Design enters the design process, while product engineers focus on the basic technology. All the usability specialists focus on the user interface. The greatest efficiency and cost effectiveness, there should be in a working relationship that is maintained from the beginning of the project to its end. 5. How can students interact online effectively to enhance their learning processes? Systematization focuses on effective methods. Organization promotes mental clarity and order. Standardization and specification of information. Eliminating junk information and maintaining virus free environment. Technology has equipped students to be able to independently organize their learning processes very effectively. Therefore, instead of being the recipients of information, students utilize technology and become very active users. Moreover, technology transfers some responsibilities for learning to the students. This happens through online learning, which provides increased access to the course content and more scheduling flexibility for better access and alternative education choices. This also provides an alternative media such as digital games and project-based learning as students have the flexibility to direct their individual progress. 6. What type of resources is required for the optimal learning of students on online classes? Improving Math and Science Instructions. Fostering Literacy by putting reading first Promoting education through technology Moving English proficient students to English fluency enhancing teacher quality Distance learning has gained value in different areas that advocated for continuous improvement. This has caused the online facets of experience. Additionally, the main concern is lack of face-to-face interaction with the instructors and the fellow classmates. Therefore, students may experience the disconnection, with the rest of the classrooms and schoolmates who are proactively looking for ways to alleviate the issue. The adoption of video conferencing technologies and even those that are free-to-use internet help students interface with teachers and other students. References Reliability databases. Proceedings of the Ispra Course held at the Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy, 21-25 Oct. 1985. Dordrecht: Reidel. Sue, V. M., & Ritter, L. A. (2007). Conducting online surveys. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. Wainer, H., & Braun, H. I. (2013). Test Validity. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. Read More