User Testing

Devon, Hope, Kristin, and myself  performed user testing within the senior studio. Three users  came to go through the 'Hard Choices' section of our exhibition. The exhibition section was presented full scale and contained all the information one would view along with an interactive element.The testing began with a brief survey that asked:

• Name/Age/Gender
• Knowledge of Poverty within the DC area.
• Explain Poverty in their own words.
• What are some hard choices people make in poverty? 
• Is poverty a result of bad decision making?
• Do they volunteer?

They then came and examined the display.

After going through the interactive element, the users were handed one last survey to fill out. This survey asked them:

• How much they learned?
• Has their definition changed?
• How much does this impact you?
• Would you volunteer?
• List one to three emotions evoked by exhibit?
• Comments/Suggestions.

        

 

TIPS LEARNED FROM USER TESTING

 What was learned?

·       Those we interviewed felt their knowledge of poverty in Douglas County was limited before looking at the information. But felt confident in their overall definition of poverty. All referenced the government.

·       Most common emotions:

o   Sympathy

o   A need to help

o   Empathy

·       At the end, they felt aware of poverty in Douglas County

·       Directions for activity were clear 2 out of the three times. One person had to ask what exactly to do.

·       Most people are educated, or their perception is not entirely mis. All of those we interviewed

What we could improve on:

·       Provided a reflection at the end of each section, or a conclusion after the interaction piece. Let them better understand why this information is important. Why we have this exhibit in the first place.

·       Using more visuals, make sure we have icons (which most sections most likely have, we didn’t due to time.)

·       To make sure the instructions are precise.