Article
Long Nav or Short Nav?: Student Responses to Two Different Navigational Interface Designs in LibGuides Version 2
The Journal of Academic Librarianship
(2018)
Abstract
This study used two successive phases of usability testing to evaluate two different versions of a Communication 430 course LibGuide. The first version of this guide had a longer, more visually complex navigation menu, with more course-related research information directly accessible through this menu. The second version had a shorter, less complex menu that offered less directly accessible information. Twenty-four of the 33 students enrolled in the class (73%) tested either one version or the other for usability in completing tasks that simulate course-related research assignments, ultimately indicating they found the longer navigation menu more usable. This paper may be the first to describe the engagement of students enrolled in a course in testing a LibGuide dedicated specifically to that course. As such, it will be of interest to many academic librarians and instructional design professionals.
Keywords
- usability,
- usability testing,
- LibGuides,
- library guides,
- information literacy
Disciplines
Publication Date
May, 2018
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2018.03.002
Citation Information
Aaron Bowen, Jake Ellis and Barbara Chaparro. "Long Nav or Short Nav?: Student Responses to Two Different Navigational Interface Designs in LibGuides Version 2" The Journal of Academic Librarianship Vol. 44 Iss. 3 (2018) p. 391 - 403 ISSN: 0099-1333 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/barbara-chaparro/1/