04/20/2021

Introduction
My experiment proposal involves usability testing. I predict that by the end of five more searches I will have reached a saturation point in regards to my research on this topic. My research has included documents that better define Usability Testing, Give examples of Usability Testing in action, and show how it can be used in different industries. I will try switching up the vocabulary and Booleans I use so that I will receive varied results.

Heuristic Evaluation AND Software

• Terms Used- Heuristic Evaluation AND software
• Database – EBSCOhost w/all sub databases selected
• Timeline limitations – 2010-2021
• Other limitations – Full Text, Scholarly, Peer Reviewed
• Search Results- 28

This search proved useful by providing me with a usability evaluation of educational games directed towards children. (Da Silveria et al., 2019) This is enlightening to me because I may benefit from incorporating various age groups within my research. Most software is developed for adults but children have a certain way of thinking that may provide unique data. This can also become a whole study within itself as I would predict that designing things for children would be very different. I even went down a whole new rabbit whole that referenced terms like HEP (Heuristics to evaluate playability). My proposal is more in-line with a workplace study of usability design but the study is enlightening and includes lots of references.

Design & Usability Testing & Apps

• Terms Used – Design AND Usability Testing AND Apps
• Database – GALE ONEFILE /Information Science
• Timeline limitations – none
• Other limitations – Full Text, Peer Reviewed
• Search Results – 1

This search I wanted to push the limits of the Boolean operators and used three terms to specify exactly what I was looking for. Initially I replaced ‘apps’ with ‘workforce’ but nothing came up.  The one study I received was relevant. This study reviews mobile device applications. Specifically, what makes users choose one over the other ( Cata & Martz, 2015). The text provides examples of possible questionnaires that may be useful when compiling my own proposal. It also has relevant citations that I will begin tracing.

A  Citation Trace

• Terms Used- N/A, This source derived from a citation trace
• Database- N/A, Source found was derived from a source acquired through GALE ONEFILE
• Timeline limitations- none
• Other limitations- Full Text
• Search Results- 1 (Single source found after a citation trace)

I found the source titled ‘Usability Dimensions for Mobile Applications – A Review’  (Baharuddin et al., 2013) by conducting a citation trace from my last resource.  This resource suggest guidelines for usability testing that evaluate mobile applications. It may be useful when determining the measures and qualities that I would gather data for within my proposed experiment. This papers literature review section also does a good job of evaluating differences in similar work and summarizing the important aspects within each.

Usability Evaluation AND Interfaces AND Application

• Terms Used- Usability Evaluation AND Interfaces AND Application
• Database ProQuest (ABI/Inform Collection)
• Timeline limitations – 2010 – 2021
• Other Limitations – Full Text, Peer Reviewed
• Search Results – 4118

This Evaluation was conducted on a web-based tool called Drive Focus. Drive Focus is an application aimed at helping individuals with autism learn how to drive. (Monahan et al., 2020). This article does a great job at discussing relevant facts prior to outlining the research results so that a reader obtains a good understanding of there significance.

One More subject Search

• Terms Used- Usability – (Clicked on the word ‘Usability’ under the Abstract/Details tab )from my previous search
• Database ProQuest (ABI/Inform Collection)
• Timeline limitations – 2010-2020
• Other limitations – Full Text, Peer Reviewed
• Search Results 464

Subject Searching seems to be a great way to get truly relevant results. Nearly all of these articles seem like ones worth my time.  I find an interesting one where developers have created a ‘roommate matching website’ and conducted a usability test on it (Shekhawat et al., 2016). This paper is short and I think it suffers from its lack of detail. The data they looked to receive was only partially completed because of some errors in experiment design. If anything, this provides me with some knowledge on what not to do.

Saturation

At this point I think that it is fair to say I have reached saturation. I could find more examples on how to conduct the research but the ones I have are encompassing in regards to methods, operational definitions, literature reviews, outline, and procedure. I also have plenty of ideas as far as what subject questions to ask and what measures to use. Additionally, I am seeing a lot of the same conclusions across research and databases.

References

Cata, T., & Martz, B. (2015). Comparing mobile APPs usability characteristics for designers and users. Journal of International Technology and Information Management, 24(4), 65.