Usability and Accessibility Testing in Support of Internet Reporting

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Usability and Accessibility Testing in Support of
Internet Reporting

• Fifty-third Plenary Session
• of the Conference of European Statisticians
• Geneva, 13-15 June, 2005
• Elizabeth D. Murphy, Ph.D.
• U.S. Census Bureau

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Overview

• Purposes of testing
• Testing prototypes of the Census Internet form
  2000 2005
• Steps in completing the Internet form
• Examples from log-in requirement
• Major lessons learned

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Purposes of Testing

• Usability
• Accessibility

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Testing Prototypes of the Census Internet Form
2000 - 2005

• Census 2000
• 2003 National Census Test
• 2004 Overseas Enumeration Test
• 2005 National Census Test

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Steps in Accessing and Completing the Internet
Form

• Receive and open mailing package
• Learn about Internet option
• Arrive at housing unit log-in screen
• Start form gtgtgt Submit data
• Receive Thank You screen and exit

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Log-in Requirement in Census 2000

• Whatwhere is my Census ID Number?

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Census 2000 Graphic in Help
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2005 National Census Test Prototype Log-in
Screen
Before usability testing with 22 test users
Do I have a Census ID number? What ID?
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2005 National Census TestRevised Log-in Screen
After changes based on usability findings
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Major Lessons Learned

• Completing the online form itself is not a
  problem.
• Cumbersome, confusing log-in process gtgt loss of
  respondents
• Usability and accessibility testing reveal
  problems not revealed by other kinds of software
  testing.
• A smooth experience for the respondent requires
  end-to-end design.