Abstract #300891

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JSM 2003 Abstract #300891
Activity Number: 114
Type: Topic Contributed
Date/Time: Monday, August 4, 2003 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
Abstract - #300891
Title: Expansion of EIAs Web Site Usability Testing Program
Author(s): Robert H. Rutchik*+ and Herbert T. Miller and Howard R. Bradsher-Fredrick and Renee H. Miller and Colleen Blessing
Companies: U.S. Department of Energy and Energy Information Administration and U.S. Department of Energy and Energy Information Administration and Energy Information Administration
Address: 5524 Besley Court, Rockville, MD, 20851-2428,
Keywords: usability testing ; web site ; respondents
Abstract:

EIA has conducted usability testing on its web site since 1999. Until 2001, EIA asked participants if they could find specific energy information in the site, e.g., the projected price of motor gasoline for summer 2001. EIA would then test results to improve the site design, navigation, and understandability of the information. For 2002, EIA changed the focus of its testing in two ways. In addition to asking participants to find specific information, EIA also asked respondents if they understood the wording on links and where they would find definitions of energy terms. EIA also changed its recruitment process. Prior to 2002, EIA did not stratify its testing participants. In 2002, EIA divided its participants into energy experts and nonenergy experts. The experts were asked additional questions about the site. This paper discusses EIA's change in recruitment and testing methodology and how it applied this change, by testing specific groups of users and/or specific parts of the site, to its 2003 tests.

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