Usability Evaluation of Web application : A Study of Resource Catalogue Platform

Abstract

Usability evaluation plays a crucial role in the development and improvement of web applications. Selecting an appropriate method is key to obtaining meaningful results that guide the application's success. This thesis explores six distinct usability evaluation methods applicable to web applications, with a primary focus on the Resource Catalogue Platform web application. These methods are Usability Testing, Think-Aloud, Questionnaire and Interview, Eye Tracking, Heuristic Evaluation, and Cognitive Walkthrough. The work is divided into two parts. The first part presents various usability evaluation methods, explaining that each method offers unique insights based on factors like participant interactions or expert analysis of the web application. The selection of the method depends on various factors such as research objectives, time constraints, and budget allocation. The related literature study also advocates for the implementation of a mixed-method approach for a more comprehensive evaluation of the application’s usability.

The latter part presents a systematic evaluation of the Resource Catalogue Platform web application’s usability. This evaluation implemented a mixed-method approach incorporating Usability Testing, Think-Aloud Techniques, and Post-Test Questionnaires. Five participants were employed for testing purposes. Key metrics such as task completion success rates, task completion times, and participant feedback were analyzed to evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness, and user experience. The evaluation revealed that participants rated the application positively across various dimensions, highlighting its ease of navigation, visual appeal, and speed. Most of the participants were able to complete tasks successfully, indicating that the effectiveness and efficiency met the standard percentage (above 80%). However, some usability issues, such as duplicate navigation labels, and non-descriptive error messages, were identified. Subsequently, recommendations were made to overcome these issues and enhance the usability and user experience of the Resource Catalogue Platform web application.