GETTING WHAT YOU NEED FROM

YOUR UNIVERSITY WEBSITE

USABILITY TESTING
Othman Alenazi
Amanda Haruch
English 317
Project 4
29 November, 2015

GETTING WHAT YOU NEED FROM YOUR

UNIVERSITY WEBSITE
USABILITY TESTING
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this report is to evaluate the usability of two University websites; the University of Idaho
website (www.uidaho.edu) and the Washington State University website (www.wsu.edu). The goal is to
assess, as a newly admitted student, how easy it is for a new user to accomplish basic tasks necessary
to finding information about their school, assuming the user has basic knowledge and experience using
the internet but is not familiar with these specific websites.

METHODS
TASKS
1. Find out when registration begins
2. Find out when new student orientation is
3. Update personal information
4. Find information for student health insurance requirements
5. Find financial aid information
6. Find the costs of tuition for in state students
7. Find a schedule of classes for Fall of 2016
8. Find the list of courses required for your major
9. Find my advisor
10. Find where to register for classes
TEST ENVIRONMENT
The testing environment will be a quiet apartment in Moscow, using a PC laptop to access the internet
with Mozilla Firefox web browser. This is a common web browser and the environment should
represent an average students perspective as they would use the university websites.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
In order to explain qualitative data in a quantitative way, the two websites will be evaluated using a data
collection form with criteria statements and the Likert scale. Here is a blank data collection form:

TASK:
Circle which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Uidaho.edu
WSU.edu
Notes:

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

5
5

4
4

3
3

2
2

1
1

I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Uidaho.edu
WSU.edu
Notes:

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

5
5

4
4

3
3

2
2

1
1

I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.

Uidaho.edu
WSU.edu
Notes:

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

5
5

4
4

3
3

2
2

1
1

RESULTS
TASK 1: FIND OUT WHEN REGISTRATION BEGINS
Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

4
Uidaho.edu
5
4
WSU.edu
5
Notes: Less than 5 minutes for each website.

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

3
3

2
2

1
1

I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

4
Uidaho.edu
5
3
2
3
WSU.edu
5
4
2
Notes: Looked in wrong place several times first before finding the answer.

Strongly Disagree

1
1

I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.

Strongly Agree

5
Uidaho.edu
5
WSU.edu
Notes: Task was completed.

FIGURE 1.1

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

4
4

3
3

2
2

1
1

FIGURE 1.2

TASK 2: FIND OUT WHEN NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION IS

Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
3
2
1
4
WSU.edu
5
3
2
1
Notes: The Uidaho site took less than 1 minute, the WSU site took more than 5 minutes.
I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
3
2
1
3
WSU.edu
5
4
2
1
Notes: The Uidaho website had the information linked to the same area of the website as the
last task so it was easy to find. The WSU website had a completely different website for the orientation
and it required using the search feature to find.
I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

5
Uidaho.edu
5
WSU.edu
Notes: The task was completed.

FIGURE 2.1

4
4

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

3
3

2
2

1
1

FIGURE 2.2

TASK 3: UPDATE PERSONAL INFORMATION

Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

2
Uidaho.edu
5
4
3
1
4
WSU.edu
5
3
2
1
Notes: Uidaho redirects you to another website and if you dont know about that website, it is
hard to find and takes a long time. WSU doesnt have a quick link but it was faster to search than
Uidaho.
I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

2
Uidaho.edu
5
4
3
1
4
WSU.edu
5
3
2
1
Notes: Uidaho was frustrating if you dont know what to look for. WSU was not but it still needed
to be searched for.
I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

4
Uidaho.edu
5
3
2
1
5
WSU.edu
4
3
2
1
Notes: WSU has better explanation of how to access personal information, had to find with
search feature but it was the first result. Uidaho doesnt had instructions and the link was far down in
the search results.

FIGURE 3.1

FIGURE 3.2

TASK 4: FIND INFORMATION FOR STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

4
Uidaho.edu
5
3
2
1
4
WSU.edu
5
3
2
1
Notes: Neither website had a quick link but had it in the search and took less than 1 minute.
I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
5
WSU.edu
4
Notes: Both search results had the information.

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

3
3

2
2

1
1

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
3
2
5
WSU.edu
4
3
2
Notes: Both websites provided a lot of information about health insurance.

FIGURE 4.1

1
1

FIGURE 4.2

TASK 5: FIND FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
3
2
1
5
WSU.edu
4
3
2
1
Notes: Both websites had the information under the current student section or the admissions
link so it was easy to find.
I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

2
2

1
1

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

3
3

2
2

1
1

5
Uidaho.edu
4
3
5
WSU.edu
4
3
Notes: It was easy to find this information on both websites.
I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
5
WSU.edu
4
Notes: I was able to find a lot of information.

FIGURE 5.1

FIGURE 5.2

TASK 6: FIND THE COSTS OF TUITION FOR IN STATE STUDENTS

Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

4
Uidaho.edu
5
3
2
4
WSU.edu
5
3
2
Notes: Both websites showed this information close to the financial aid info.

Strongly Disagree

1
1

I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
3
5
WSU.edu
4
3
Notes: Found information fast and it was the right information.

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

2
2

1
1

I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.

Strongly Agree

5
Uidaho.edu
5
WSU.edu
Notes: Task was completed.

FIGURE 6.1

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

4
4

3
3

2
2

1
1

FIGURE 6.2

TASK 7: FIND A SCHEDULE OF CLASSES FOR FALL OF 2016

Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

3
Uidaho.edu
5
4
4
WSU.edu
5
3
Notes: It took some time but it not very long on both sites.

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

2
2

1
1

I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

4
Uidaho.edu
5
3
2
1
5
WSU.edu
4
3
2
1
Notes: The Uidaho website redirects you to another website and it was hard to find a link. Its
hard to use the search tool if you dont know what to type. The WSU website had it under the
Admissions link which was easy.
I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.
Strongly Agree

Uidaho.edu
5
WSU.edu
5
Notes: Task was completed.

FIGURE 7.1

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

4
4

3
3

2
2

1
1

FIGURE 7.2

TASK 8: FIND THE LIST OF COURSES REQUIRED FOR YOUR MAJOR

Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

2
Uidaho.edu
5
4
3
3
WSU.edu
5
4
2
Notes: It took more than 10 minutes for each website to find this information.

Strongly Disagree

1
1

I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

2
Uidaho.edu
5
4
3
1
2
WSU.edu
5
4
3
1
Notes: It was easy to find information about Electrical Engineering programs and departments,
but the list of classes was not in the same place.
I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

4
Uidaho.edu
5
3
2
1
2
WSU.edu
5
4
3
1
Notes: Task was completed on Uidaho website but not found on WSU website. The WSU
website refers the student to their advisor so that is as close to completing the task as the website can
get.

FIGURE 8.1

FIGURE 8.2

10

TASK 9: FIND MY ADVISOR

Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

1
Uidaho.edu
5
4
3
2
2
WSU.edu
5
4
3
1
Notes: It was not easy to find so I used the search tool, only found it for WSU, not Uidaho..
I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

2
Uidaho.edu
5
4
3
1
2
WSU.edu
5
4
3
1
Notes: The WSU website redirected me to another website for advising which was hard to find.
I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

1
Uidaho.edu
5
4
3
2
2
WSU.edu
5
4
3
1
Notes: Task was not completed on Uidaho website and the WSU website had a page that
wasnt working. Maybe you have to be a registered student for this feature but it has a blank screen.

FIGURE 9

11

TASK 10: FIND WHERE TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES

Select which number best describes how well you agree or disagree with each criteria statement:
I was able to accomplish this task in a timely manner.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
3
2
5
WSU.edu
4
3
2
Notes: I used the search tool for this and found it very fast on both websites.

1
1

I was able to accomplish the task easily without getting confused or frustrated.
Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
5
WSU.edu
4
Notes: It was simple to understand.

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

3
3

2
2

1
1

Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

I was satisfied with the outcome of completing this task.

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

5
Uidaho.edu
4
3
2
5
WSU.edu
4
3
2
Notes: Task was completed and had instructions for registration on both websites.

FIGURE 10.1

1
1

FIGURE 10.2

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SUMMARY
Overall, both websites had some strengths and some weaknesses. The Uidaho website was good in
the search tool and a lot of the tasks were easy to complete because once you find one answer, other
answers are close to it and it has a link to the next question. The WSU website has a lot of links that
are specific but not for these tasks and so you have to use the search tool and it will take you to a
different website so I would say it is not as intuitive but it is still user friendly because the search tool
works. Below are the averages for each criteria question. The two websites tied in the ease and
outcome category but the Uidaho website was .4 pints behind the WSU website in how much time it
took to complete the tasks.

I was able to
accomplish tasks in a
timely manner
Uidaho.edu
WSU.edu

3.5
3.9

I was able to
accomplish tasks easily
without getting
confused or frustrated
3.9
3.9

I was satisfied with the

outcome of completing
this tasks
4.3
4.3

RECOMMENDATION
Based on the results, the user would prefer the WSU website over the Uidaho website because it takes
less time to complete a task. Although there was a task that was not satisfactory, the Uidaho wensite
also had a task that could not be completed so the scores are very close. Both websites provide a lot of
information and feature a search tool so if the user is overwhelmed by all of the links, they can search
for their topic.

13