Usability Project

February 7, 2008 at 4:13 pm (Class)

Last class, we started discussing our usability project of the rowan.edu website. My group is working on the Future Students page.

 But what is interesting is that I gained some valuable information from another class (Core II taught by Diane Penrod) from the 3rd edition of Academic Writing by Janet Giltrow. This is a concept we will work with later in the usability project, but that I think deserves to be brought up now, regardless:

“4.3.1 Catching the reader in the act: the think-aloud protocol

The think-aloud protocol asks subjects to report the ideas that are going through their heads as they perform a task, like writing an essay or reading one. Think-aloud reports are like eyewitness testimony of events that researches can’t witness themselves…

The think-aloud protocol resembles forms of usability testing of documents. Imn the process of composing manuals, instructions, information bulletins, and other genres, technical writers sometimes test their documents’ efficiency by having them read out loud–by people who might purchase software, for example, or citizens who might seek information about a government program, or car ownders who might need to know about a vehicle recall. As they read aloud, the subjects report their understanding, and their difficulties. In light of these reports, and informed about where other readers are liekly to have trouble, writers then revise (or not–there have been some studies on when and whether technical writers actually do revise after usability testing). The think-aloud protocol is thus both an instrument of research and a tool for professional writers.” (167-168)

 

It came up during our initial discussion of the usability project whether or not our groups would document oral remarks or not. After reading Giltrow, I’m sold–think-aloud protocol seems like an excellent benefit in research. 

 

disclaimer: I know this should have been a block quote but I cannot format the blog to allow this. Please forgive my format!


1 Comment

  1. brinkmannship said,

    February 12, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    Hmmm…thinking aloud could get me into trouble if my thinking involves usability of some websites. When I’m technologically frustrated, I sound like I am auditioning for a role in The Sopranos.

    On a more serious note, I dig the think-aloud protocol because it helps me focus and/or talk myself through a multi-step or sophistocated process.

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