Investigating Quality of Institutional Repository Website Design Using Usability Testing Framework

TL;DR

This study evaluates the usability of an institutional repository website at a Indonesian university using a multi-technique usability testing framework, providing practical design recommendations and methodological insights.

Contribution

It introduces a multi-technique usability testing approach for IR websites and offers practical visual design recommendations based on user feedback.

Findings

Usability scores indicated areas needing improvement.

Qualitative analysis identified key user experience issues.

Design recommendations enhanced website usability.

Abstract

Quality of website design is one of the influential factors of website success. How the design helps the users using effectively and efficiently website and satisfied at the end of the use. However, it is a common tendency that websites are designed based on the developer's perspectives and lack considering user importance. Thus, the degree of website usability tends to be low according to user perceptions. This study purposed to understand the user experiences using an institutional repository (IR) website in a public university in Indonesia. The research was performed based on usability testing framework as the usability testing method. About 12 participants were purposely involved concerning their key informant characteristics. Following three empirical data collection techniques (i.e., query technique, formal experiment, and thinking aloud), both descriptive analysis using usability scale matric and content analysis using qualitative data analysis (QDA) Miner Lite software were used in the data analysis stage. Lastly, several visual design recommendations were then proposed at the end of the study. In terms of a case study, besides the practical recommendations which may contextually useful for the next website development; the clarity of the research design may also help scholars how to combine more than one usability testing technique within a multi-technique study design.