To: USGS Office of Water Information

From: USGS Usability Testers

Date: 7/9/19
Subject: Mobile Water Data Webpage Usability Results

The following report contains the results and recommendations gathered from the usability test
that was conducted for the instructions on your mobile water data website. During the test the
users were asked to complete tasks that were highlighted by the instructions. The instructions
provided covered multiple different features including map navigation, favorites, search, and site
details. The test used allowed us to determine which portions of the website were unhelpful or
confusing when new users need to navigate your site.

Test Objectives
During our usability test there were three objectives for users to complete. This allowed us to
determine which portions of the instructions were helpful in completing specific tasks as well as
determine which pictures helped. The three objectives we gave our testers were:
1. Navigate to any nearby site and pull up a detailed graph
2. Save a site to the favorites list
3. Search for a site using the search tool

Results
Strengths
During the usability test, the users located the following strengths:

● Site Details were easy to access

● The current location function was convenient

Weaknesses
During the usability test, the users located the following weaknesses:

● Pictures could have been useful, however not located near the relevant information.
● The sections of the instructions were out of order
● It was easy to add and remove favorites, but the button was too small in comparison to
the graph
● The Site Search did not work properly and was confusing
● The instructions were too wordy
Questionnaire
The following question was asked of the test users; however, the questions were not separated
into two part close-ended and open-ended. We asked each test user three questions from our
closed-ended and open-ended questionnaire.

Close Ended Question Responses

The users were asked the following close-ended questions

1. Did you finish the instructions?
2. Were the images useful?
3. Did you find the instructions too difficult or easy?

● All users were able to finish our instructions

● Most users stated the images were useful, however, not located in the correct location to
be relevant.
● Majority said easy; however a few said the instructions were confusing.

Open Ended Question Responses

The users were asked the following open-ended questions

4. Were there any parts that you found frustrating? If yes, what?
5. What part of the instructions helped you navigate the least?
6. What part of the instructions helped you navigate the most?

● Majority of the users stated that the instructions were frustrating because it was wordy,
and the users did not know whether or not the instructions were informative or directive.
● The users found that the initial access and symbology, image, add favorite button, and
hyperlink were not very helpful.
● Majority of the users said the images help them the most when they were lost; however
a few said the images would have been helpful if the images was in the right place.
Suggestions

The first change we proposed for the website was a reordering of the instructions. We received
complaints that the instructions felt as though they were out of order. We rearranged the
sections so that they now follow a logical order. We also removed the Special Access Buttons
section and added the information to the Using The Map section.

The initial instructions felt wordy, so we reworded and added steps that users would be able to
follow as an example. One user suggested that we change the color and font of the headers.
We changed the headers to a dark green color and a serif font.
We added a screenshot to Initial Access that felt more relevant to the information in that section
and moved the original screenshot to the Using The Map section. We moved the screenshots
around the instructions to eliminate white space and solve the issue that users had with images
coming too late after the instructions.