Roaming the Internet, users sometimes encounter severe problems or feel dissatisfied using a particular site. E-government websites are the public gateways to access information and services but there is still no agreement on how to assess a government's online presence. Failure of e-government projects in achieving their goals is common and there is uncertainty about how best to evaluate an e-government website. It has been argued that existing evaluation frameworks have some methodological limitations and they mostly neglected citizens. There is a lack of an engineering approach for building web systems and the literature on measuring the quality of website is limited. There is an uncertainty in the selection of evaluation methods and some risks of standardizing inadequate evaluation practices. Managing the complexity of web applications, Web Engineering is emerging as a new discipline for the development and evaluation of web systems to promote high-quality websites. But web quality is still a debatable issue and web metrics is considered a valuable area of ongoing research. Therefore this research focuses on the methodological issues underlying web metrics and how to develop an applicable set of measurement for designing websites. The main aim is to create new metrics for web engineering and develop a generalizable measurement framework for local e-government since research in this field is limited. This study adopted a positivist quantitative research and used triangulation web evaluation methods (heuristic evaluation, user testing, automatic link checkers, and Alexa) to test multiple-case study of Saudi city websites. The proposed E-City Usability Framework is unique in integrating 3-dimension measures (website usability, e-services, and the number and type of e-services), and in using multi-orientations to cover several aspects of e-government: output (information and services), outcomes (citizen-centricity indicators), model, and model-based assessments. Existing e-government models were criticized, and the findings employed in developing the proposed framework. The best web evaluation methods were heuristic evaluation and user testing, while link checkers and Alexa proved to be unreliable tools; nevertheless, they can be used as a useful complementary approach. Saudi city websites were ranked by website quality, e-services, and overall evaluation. Common usability problems in these websites were found to be: the sites were not citizen-centered, limited e-services and information, no e-transaction, no emergency alerts, no municipal budget, and no city council reports. They also suffered from broken links, an inactive city map, a poor eComplaint section, and a nonfunctioning search facility.

Research reports that the search for health information is the fourth most popular activity being done on the web (Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2004). However, for disabled persons, barriers experienced when interfacing with the Internet may cause healthcare websites to be inaccessible to them. This study explores the level of accessibility of healthcare websites and the relationship between accessibility and usability by determining how compliant state department of health and human services websites are with accessibility and usability guidelines. A content analysis of each state’s department of health and human services website was conducted. Results revealed that state department of health and human services websites are not very compliant with accessibility guidelines, are somewhat compliant with usability guidelines, and overall are not very accessible. The findings also indicate that there is a significant moderate relationship between accessibility and usability which suggests that the two concepts are interconnected.

No description available.

Orientador: Silvana Aparecida Borsetti Gregório Vidotti / Banca: Márcio Antonio Teixeira / Banca: Plácida Leopoldina Ventura Amorim da Costa Santos / Resumo: Este estudo aborda aspectos relativos à comunicação científica considerada como principal meio de disseminação do conhecimento científico e facilitadora do intercâmbio entre os pesquisadores nos vários campos da ciência. Considera as tecnologias de informação e comunicação, em particular a Internet, como fonte potencializadora de difusão do conhecimento científico. Em especial, ressalta o periódico científico como um dos principais veículos de comunicação dos resultados de pesquisa nesse âmbito. Apresenta como objetivo principal, um Modelo para análise de usabilidade de periódico científico eletrônico, enfatizando os elementos da arquitetura da informação e da usabilidade de website para publicação eletrônica. Reflete sobre a perspectiva interacionista que reconhece a importância da atuação do usuário como integrante ativo no processo ensino-aprendizagem. Como objetos de estudo apresenta as revistas on-line RAE-eletrônica e REAd - Revista Eletrônica de Administração. A metodologia consta da comparação das estruturas dos periódicos selecionados, aplicada a um modelo já validado, e da aplicação de um questionário acompanhado de entrevista do grupo focal como métodos prospectivos de avaliação de usabilidade sob a ótica de usuários. Os avaliadores são alunos e docentes do curso de administração que participam de atividades na graduação e pós-graduação. Como resultados, apresentam-se as análises e discussões sobre a organização e estrutura das informações no ambiente digital de periódicos científicos e que devem ser consideradas para garantir a qualidade e a funcionalidade dos formatos eletrônicos bem como o Modelo para análise de usabilidade de periódico científico eletrônico. / Abstract: The present research is intended for addressing aspects related to the scientific communication considered primary source to spread scientific knowledge, which facilitates the interchange among researchers in several science fields. It also considers information and communication technologies, specially the Internet, as source to potentize the spreading of scientific knowledge. Moreover, this work presents the scientific journal as one of the main vehicles for communicating research results, and searches for references in the quality criteria which classify the vehicle, as well as in the principles and recommendations presented in the literature such as indicators to improve the structures of information hypermedia environments developed to the web. There is also a reflection on the interactionist perspective which recognizes the importance of the user as active part of the learning process. As study subject, it was selected the "RAE Eletrônica" and "REAd Revista Eletrônica de Administração", both on-line magazines, in order to carry a comparative analysis between the selected websites and journals, identifying elements observed in their structures and functionalities. Finally, along with an interview and focus group, a questionnaire was applied in order to evaluate usability from the viewpoint of the users who evaluated the system. These evaluators are students and Business Management teachers who participate in graduation and post-graduation activities related to their knowledge field. As a result, it is presented an analysis and discussion about data organization and structure in the digital environment of scientific journals, which must be considered in order to guarantee quality and functionality of the electronic format, as well as model of usability analysis. / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-02-11Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:30:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 ordones_sad_me_mar.pdf: 1241996 bytes, checksum: 24476cddf5e600c0fc675c93792d675c (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Este estudo aborda aspectos relativos à comunicação científica considerada como principal meio de disseminação do conhecimento científico e facilitadora do intercâmbio entre os pesquisadores nos vários campos da ciência. Considera as tecnologias de informação e comunicação, em particular a Internet, como fonte potencializadora de difusão do conhecimento científico. Em especial, ressalta o periódico científico como um dos principais veículos de comunicação dos resultados de pesquisa nesse âmbito. Apresenta como objetivo principal, um Modelo para análise de usabilidade de periódico científico eletrônico, enfatizando os elementos da arquitetura da informação e da usabilidade de website para publicação eletrônica. Reflete sobre a perspectiva interacionista que reconhece a importância da atuação do usuário como integrante ativo no processo ensino-aprendizagem. Como objetos de estudo apresenta as revistas on-line RAE-eletrônica e REAd - Revista Eletrônica de Administração. A metodologia consta da comparação das estruturas dos periódicos selecionados, aplicada a um modelo já validado, e da aplicação de um questionário acompanhado de entrevista do grupo focal como métodos prospectivos de avaliação de usabilidade sob a ótica de usuários. Os avaliadores são alunos e docentes do curso de administração que participam de atividades na graduação e pós-graduação. Como resultados, apresentam-se as análises e discussões sobre a organização e estrutura das informações no ambiente digital de periódicos científicos e que devem ser consideradas para garantir a qualidade e a funcionalidade dos formatos eletrônicos bem como o Modelo para análise de usabilidade de periódico científico eletrônico. / The present research is intended for addressing aspects related to the scientific communication considered primary source to spread scientific knowledge, which facilitates the interchange among researchers in several science fields. It also considers information and communication technologies, specially the Internet, as source to potentize the spreading of scientific knowledge. Moreover, this work presents the scientific journal as one of the main vehicles for communicating research results, and searches for references in the quality criteria which classify the vehicle, as well as in the principles and recommendations presented in the literature such as indicators to improve the structures of information hypermedia environments developed to the web. There is also a reflection on the interactionist perspective which recognizes the importance of the user as active part of the learning process. As study subject, it was selected the “RAE Eletrônica” and “REAd Revista Eletrônica de Administração”, both on-line magazines, in order to carry a comparative analysis between the selected websites and journals, identifying elements observed in their structures and functionalities. Finally, along with an interview and focus group, a questionnaire was applied in order to evaluate usability from the viewpoint of the users who evaluated the system. These evaluators are students and Business Management teachers who participate in graduation and post-graduation activities related to their knowledge field. As a result, it is presented an analysis and discussion about data organization and structure in the digital environment of scientific journals, which must be considered in order to guarantee quality and functionality of the electronic format, as well as model of usability analysis.

Despite having access to volumes of information, women newly diagnosed with breast cancer report a moderate level of distress related to their diagnosis, treatment, life expectancy, threat to current roles, and life-changing surgery and treatment choices. Web sites designed to teach people strategies to reduce distress are readily available online. The online format may be useful and practical for women who can access the site at their convenience, learn the components of the interventions at their own pace, and practice the strategies in the comfort of their home. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an online Mind-Body web site (http://www.www.preparingforyoursurgery.com) designed to reduce distress related to surgery for its usability, practicality, and appropriateness for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Results of this study will be used to either adopt use of the web site into standard of care at our cancer center or explore development of a similar web site to meet the needs of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Women recently diagnosed with breast cancer, who had breast cancer surgery in the past 60 days, were asked to evaluate an online Mind-Body web site and then respond to an online questionnaire measuring the web site usability, practicality, and appropriateness. Thirty-one women evaluated the web site and completed the online survey. The majority of women agreed the web site is useful, practical, appropriate, and would recommend to others. There was no significant relationship between age, income, level of education, frequency of Internet use, or experience with Mind-Body techniques and women who agreed the web site is useful, appropriate, or practical compared to women who were neutral or disagreed the web site iii is useful, appropriate, or practical. The results of this study suggest the web site could be introduced to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer at our cancer center regardless of age, income, education, frequency of Internet use, or experience with Mind-Body techniques.

Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι να γίνει μία προσπάθεια ανάλυσης της ποιότητας δικτυακών τόπων φαρμακευτικών εταιρειών, έχοντας υπόψη το πώς γίνεται μία γενική αξιολόγηση των χαρακτηριστικών των ιστοσελίδων καθώς παρουσιάζει αρκετά κοινά κριτήρια με την αξιολόγηση ιστοσελίδων φαρμακευτικών εταιρειών. Οι φαρμακευτικές εταιρείες που συμμετείχαν ως δείγμα στην έρευνά μας δραστηριοποιούνται τόσο στον ελλαδικό χώρο όσο και παγκοσμίως και είναι είτε εθνικές είτε πολυεθνικές εταιρείες. Οι διαδικτυακοί τόποι που αναλύσαμε ήταν είκοσι σε αριθμό και τα δεδομένα προέκυψαν με τη βοήθεια των λογιστικών φύλλων στο Excel. Τα χρώματα, οι γραμματοσειρές, τα στοιχεία πλοήγησης είναι λειτουργικά και ευπαρουσίαστα χωρίς περιττά και δύσχρηστα στοιχεία. Τα ερευνητικά συμπεράσματα υποδεικνύουν πως σε υψηλό βαθμό η κατασκευή των ιστοσελίδων έχει γίνει σε περιβάλλον φιλικό προς τους χρήστες, δίνοντας τη δυνατότητα για εύκολη πλοήγηση και αναζήτηση θεμάτων που άπτονται των ενδιαφερόντων τους. / The purpose of this paper is to analyse the quality of websites of pharmaceutical companies, having regard how is generally the evaluation of the websites as it presents several common criteria to evaluation of pharmaceutical companies’ websites. Pharmaceutical companies involved in our survey sample are active both in Greece and worldwide and are either national or multinational companies. The websites we analyzed were twenty and the data obtained with the help of a spreadsheet in Excel. The colors, fonts, navigability are functional and presentable without unnecessary and inconvenient items. The research findings indicate that these websites has been designed in an environmentally friendly frame for users, allowing them easy navigation and searching issues of their interests.

Past research has shown that dialogic communication has essential characteristics that foster two-way communication between organizations and their stakeholders. This study investigates how public relations firms incorporate the principles of dialogic communication on their websites. The top and bottom 50 websites from the Holmes report on Top 250 Global PR agency rankings were content analyzed. Kent and Taylor’s (1998, 2003) five principles of dialogic communication were applied to find out if public relations firms incorporate the principle of dialogic communication effectively on their websites, provide relevant information for stakeholders and prospective clients, and if there are differences between PR rankings in terms of website usability and the dialogic loop. Findings reveal that bottom 50 PR websites are not as dialogic as the top 50 PR websites. In addition, the study revealed that both top and bottom to a considerable extent incorporated the principles of dialogic communication.

This thesis deals with The Royal Mint and it's online strategy. Using web analytics tools and usability testing it analyzes a current state of website and e-shop of the company. From the obtained figures about visits of the website, keywords, conversion rate, traffic sources and others, the customers' behavior is analyzed and subsequent conversion rate and user friendliness-raising measures are evaluated. The thesis summarizes recommendations resulting from the carried analyses in order to increase the online sales, bring new customers online and increase the loyalty of the existing ones.

機場在航空運輸產業供應鏈扮演著舉足輕重的角色，國際機場作為國家之門戶，其傳遞予外部顧客之軟硬體設施服務水準，正是國家競爭力之展現；時至今日，網際網路已成為民眾傳遞、分享及獲取多元資訊主要媒介，國際機場網站更是國際機場管理當局經營顧客關係的伸展台，因此，國際機場網站所傳遞的不僅是機場的形象，更是國家的面貌，如何讓外籍顧客在與國際機場網站初次邂逅的同時，即滿足其資訊需求，進而產生造訪該國的動機，即成為國際機場網站管理者進行服務設計時之重要課題。 本研究針對臺灣桃園國際機場等六座機場之英文版網站進行內容分析及網站優使性測試，發現多數評估對象之網站內容或功能並無顯著之差異，然而，經研究者彙整優使性測試評分、受測人員之優使性測試意見及關鍵參與者之訪談內容，本文建議臺灣桃園國際機場英文版網站應優先改善航班資訊之編排方式及檢索方式，及提升購物、飲食店家資訊之完整性；其次，色彩、字型、字體大小等視覺傳達介面優使性評估指標亦應納入改善項目，並落實各語言版本之一致性及內控機制之建立，以優化使用者對臺灣桃園國際機場英文版網站之使用體驗，進而提升使用者對臺灣桃園國際機場之信賴。此外，本研究期待公部門於推動電子化政府發展過程中，在追求行政效能及便民服務品質的同時，亦能提升對網站優使性的意識，進而協助政府評估網站使用效能，創造良好的網站使用體驗。 / Airports play a decisive role in the supply chain of aviation industry. As a gateway of one country, an international airport manifests a nation’s competitiveness through the service standard of its software and hardware facilities delivering to its external customers. Today, Internet has become a main media for people to pass on, to share and to acquire various pieces of information, which makes the official website of an international airport an important extending platform for the authority to conduct customer relationship management. Therefore, what an international airport website represents is not just the image of a certain airport, but also the facade of one country. Under this circumstance, how to meet the needs of external customers during their first reach of an airport website so as to increase their visit motivations has become a primary issue while webmasters designing webpages. In this study, the researcher chose English version websites of six international airports, including Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, to conduct content analysis and website usability. The result shows that there are no significant differences among tested websites; however, after collecting usability test scores, participants’ opinions, and reviewing key actors interview, this thesis concludes and would suggest Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to firstly improve the layout arrangement of flight information, retrieval method, and elevate the completeness of shop and dining information. Secondly, visual communicate interface, such as color, fonts, font size and so on, and content consistency among different language versions should be enhanced and an internal control mechanism, which aims at maintaining that consistency, should be built to utilize the user experience so as to advance the credibility of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. On top of that, this study expects to raise the awareness of website usability among all government sectors, who are developing and promoting e-government policy, to also include website usability into the core concept of webpage design while pursuing administrative efficiency and quality of citizen services and, furthermore, to assist Government to conduct website evaluation in order to create a smooth and customized user experience.