Home » Eye Tracking » Eye Tracking: Online Social Networks and Web Usability Testing

Eye Tracking: Online Social Networks and Web Usability Testing

Posted on Apr 30, 2010 | 0 comments

Eye Tracking: Online Social Networks and Web Usability Testing Website usability testing has received a lot of attention lately. As some of the most frequently used sites on the web, social networking vehicles like Facebook have been the subject of multiple usability studies. Various Eye Tracking Update articles have touched on the debate regarding which technique used in these studies for evaluating web usability is superior.

One study conducted at a Swedish university compared the efficiency of two different methods while assessing the usability of Facebook, and found that a simple, no-frills approach might be the best way to go.

The study’s primary objectives were first, to compare the efficiency of the Think Aloud and the Remote testing method, and second, identify issues related to Facebook usability.

Sixteen university students were asked to complete 6 tasks on Facebook, and one of the two usability evaluation techniques was used to collect data on their behavior and user experience. For the Think Aloud method, subjects described their actions and thoughts aloud as they completed tasks.

Skype Messenger and VodBurner were used for the Remote testing method to record audio, video, and screenshots from another room while the subjects navigated Facebook to accomplish the assigned tasks. The data collected for each subject included the time needed to complete the assigned tasks, whether the task was completed successfully or unsuccessfully, problems encountered during the task steps, and facial expressions (relaxed, confused, etc.).

As far as quality of results, the study concluded that there were no significant differences between the two usability-testing techniques. However, the Think Aloud method was decidedly more efficient as it took the subjects less total time to complete tasks. In addition, there were fewer errors and far less resource requirements. This may be because users were able to stay more focused on tasks while they speaking aloud about each action. Unlike the Remote method, there were no additional software requirements, hardware, or equipment so it was cheaper and required less time to set up.

In Facebook, the most commonly occurring usability issues were centered on the chat and the search functions. The study recommends that social networking sites in general should have the following qualities: simplicity, learnability, memorability, completeness, aesthetic, predictability, and richness.

So, if you are looking into usability testing for your website, there are a lot of options to consider. If you have a substantial budget and want highly detailed, comprehensive results, high-tech systems like eye tracking and remote video recording is an excellent option. But if you just want some basic feedback, you can avoid the extra gadgets and use the Think Aloud method.

The Challenge of Usability Evaluation of Online Social Networks with a Focus on Facebook

Eye Tracking: Online Social Networks and Web Usability Testing

Categories