Toward a Layout-Based Predictor of User Effort Required to Achieve Software System Usability Goals

In order to learn how to operate unfamiliar software systems, users must expend mental and physical energy, which may be objectively and quantitatively measured as effort. This thesis hypothesizes that the amount of effort needed by users to achieve operability goals is intrinsic to aspects of system interface layout. To test this hypothesis, two experiments are conducted wherein effort expenditure by users is measured during interaction with varying software systems with differing interface layout properties. The findings of the experiments demonstrate a correlation between the intrinsic effort of an interface and its usability as predicted by extant interface layout guidelines. Based on empirical results, a widget-based predictor of user effort required for goal achievement is derived.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Grantor

Texas State University-San Marcos

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Feldman, Liam

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mueller, Carl J.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Kaikhah, Khosrow
• Komogortsev, Oleg V.
• Tamir, Dan E.

• software testing
• usability
• evaluations
• design efforts

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/3907

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/3907