Assignment #1 – Conduct a user study that compares mouse vs. keyboard performance on some task

Webpage due: Friday, September 19^th, 2008 (2 PM – before class)

Final report due: Friday, September 26^th, 2008 (2 PM – before class)

Objectives:

• Create a webpage that will allow users to complete a short task using either a keyboard or mouse.
• Time user performance (additional metrics are optional, e.g. ease of use, error tracking, and satisfaction)
• Conduct data analysis to evaluate hypothesis

Create a webpage that allows users to use either a keyboard or mouse to complete a task. The task should be relatively short (less then 2 minutes). Tasks should replicate a common interface action.

Example actions include selection, highlighting text, navigation. Feel free to ask me after class if your task is appropriate.

Study design is up to you (e.g. the number of repetitions and whether a participant will conduct both or either mouse and keyboard conditions).

Instruct the visitor to conduct the task using either a mouse or keyboard.

Have the system measure the time required to complete the task. Have the user report the time to you (e.g. emailing you the results).

By Friday, September 19^th, 2008 2 PM, email me the link to your webpage. I will post a single page with everyone’s tasks by midnight Friday on the class webpage (including all of your classmates names). If you are LATE, you will be docked 10 points from your grade per day late and are not guaranteed you’ll have enough data points.

You will have 2 days to go through and conduct everyone’s tasks.

By Monday, September 22^nd, you can conduct a t-test to determine if there is a significant difference between the mouse and the keyboard conditions.

Report – maximum 2 pages, single space, Times New Roman/Arial, 12 pt font.

• Describe study design (hypothesis, population, metrics, task)
• Describe procedure (what participants went through)
• Justify design decisions, including between-subjects vs. within-subjects, timing mechanisms, task choice, and implementation.
• Data analysis, reject/accept null hypothesis, and conclusions
• Graphs are recommended
• Include last names of anyone who did NOT do your task.

Grading

Task –

Appropriateness (does it ask an interesting question?)– 10 points

Execution of task (webpage development) – 20 points

Data Analysis –

Hypothesis creation/evaluation – 10 points

Data analysis – 30 points

Conclusions – 20 points

Participate in everyone else’s tasks – 10 points