Web dissemination principles: Dissemination and Communication Introductory course Web dissemination principles: Information architecture through card sorting

Information available does not mean it is "achievable" Common Problem in user’s experience with statistical websites. There is much information in statistical websites and this is a challege to users. Infobesity or infoxication: Difficulty for a person to have understanding and making decisions caused by the presence of too much information We can help users facilitating the finding of this information. Information available does not mean it is "achievable" “Out of sight, out of mind” [D. Norman]

Information architecture IA is about helping people understand their surroundings and find what they're looking for —in the real world as well as online. (Information Architecture Institute) Definition The art and science of organizing and labeling web sites, intranets, online communities and software to support usability and findability In other words, information architecture is the creation of a structure for a website, application, or other project, that allows us to understand where we are as users, and where the information we want is in relation to our position. Information architecture results in the creation of site maps, hierarchies, categorizations, navigation, and metadata. When a content strategist begins separating content and dividing it into categories, she is practicing information architecture. When a designer sketches a top level menu to help users understand where they are on a site, he is also practicing information architecture

Typical reasons to have bad IA schemes: Web contents reflect business organisation HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion) Web designer “knows” what users want As with many website improvements, it helps to use techniques that involve users.

Moreover, is: It serves to: Card sorting and tree testing are two simple and very effective techniques to involve users in content organization and labeling Card Sorting: users are given a set of cards labelled with the main topics of the site and they group these cards following their own criteria It serves to: Understanding how users envision the organization of information Explore how the concepts are grouped by people Understanding users' mental model provides concrete data that can be instantiated Moreover, is: Cheap, quick, democratic, …

Determine the list of topics (content) Create cards Steps: Determine the list of topics (content) Create cards Selecting participants Make the sorting sessions Analyse the results Types: Open card sorting Close card sorting Advantages and disadvantages of each mode. In open card sorting you can evaluate more qualitative aspects and in face to face users can interact with the analyst. Remote is cheaper, quicker ….ideal for tree testing Modes Face-to-face Remote

Analyzing results – Quick way: Advantages and disadvantages of each mode. In open card sorting you can evaluate more qualitative aspects and in face to face users can interact with the analyst. Remote is cheaper, quicker ….ideal for tree testing

Analyzing results – Dendrogram Advantages and disadvantages of each mode. In open card sorting you can evaluate more qualitative aspects and in face to face users can interact with the analyst. Remote is cheaper, quicker ….ideal for tree testing

http://uxpunk.com/websort http://www.conceptcodify.com http://www.userzoom.es/articles/online-card-sorting-what-how-why http://www.usabilitest.com/CardSorting http://www.usabilitest.com/CardSorting http://www.simplecardsort.com https://sites.google.com/a/uxsort.com/uxsort http://sourceforge.net/projects/cardsword http://www.optimalworkshop.com