The GenderMag Project | Design Catalog

Break down lists

Categorizing long lists helps users find items faster

attitude toward risk

information processing

motivations

websites

all

List isn't categorized enough and there's no structure to the information.

Attitude Toward Risk: A risk averse user wants to clearly locate the publication they are looking for instead of wasting time reading the entire page.

Also affects users with: comprehensive information processing style, task-oriented motivations

Organizing the publications by category allows users to see all of the subtopics that can be found on the page.

Attitude Toward Risk: With this solution, a risk averse user can identify the category they're looking for and avoid wasting time reading the full page. This doesn't hinder a risk-tolerant user since they wouldn't have experienced the problem.

Organizing the publications by category also helps users with: comprehensive information processing style, task-oriented motivations

Organize persistently

Cohesively organized instructions help task-motivated users move forward

motivations

computer self-efficacy

attitude toward risk

information processing

open-source

all

Instructions for each OS were in different locations in the project

Motivations: A task-oriented user doesn't explore around to gather up all the necessary instructions. If the instructions they need aren't organized cohesively they may abandon the task.

Also affects users with: low computer self efficacy, risk aversion, process-oriented learning style

Added and organized instructions all in one place for all OS setups.

Motivations: This allows task-motivated users to find exactly what they need but allows technology-motivated users to explore as much as they want.

Better organization can also help users with: low computer self efficacy, risk aversion, process-oriented learning style

Evidence: This redesign was validated in a user study (to appear).

Explain why

Hints can create clear paths for task-oriented users

motivations

information processing

attitude toward risk

open-source

all

This single sentence provides little information of what a user can expect if they click "Contribute.md".

Motivations: A task-oriented user prefers a workflow that doesn't require exploration to complete their task. If they don't see a clear path, they may abandon the task.

Also affects users with: comprehensive information processing style, risk aversion

The sentence with the contributing guidelines link now has hints that provides users with more information about what they can find in the 'contribute.md' file.

Motivations: A task-oriented user now knows what to expect if they click on the contributing guidelines link and doesn't need to explore in order to complete their task. Also, this solution allows a technology-motivated user to purposefully explore a piece of software by knowing where potential paths lead.

Adding hints to create a clear path can also help users with: comprehensive information processing style, risk aversion

Evidence: This redesign was validated in a user study (to appear).

Leverage hover

Hover-over drop-down menus help users avoid wasting time

attitude toward risk

motivations

information processing

websites

all

The tabs provide no additional information about the contents of the page, and forces users to view the page before knowing its contents.

Attitude Toward Risk: A risk averse user wants to clearly locate the tab with the information they are looking for instead of wasting time clicking around.

Also affects users with: task-oriented motivations, comprehensive information processing style

Incorporating hover drop-down menus allows users to see all of the sub-topics that can be found on that page.

Attitude Toward Risk: With this solution, a risk averse user knows exactly what information is under each tab and avoids wasting time clicking around. This doens't hinder a risk-tolerant user since they wouldn't have experienced the problem.

Hover drop down menus also help users with: task-oriented motivations, comprehensive information processing style

Tell the future

Providing more contextual information helps comprehensive info. processors maked educated decisions

information processing

motivations

attitude toward risk

all

There was no information about what each link lead to and who the personas represent.

Information processing style: A comprehensive information processor needs more information in order to make a decision of how to move forward.

Also affects users with: task-oriented motivations, risk aversion

Now there are separate sections for each persona which include a paragraph description and two types of forms to choose from.

Information processing style: A user with a comprehensive information processing style now is given plenty of information in order to make an educated decision. This also doesn't hurt selective information processors since they can just choose one of the persona form options (in blue) rather than read the information before.

Providing more contextual information also helps users with: task-oriented motivations, risk aversion

Prevent false connections

Removing contradicting information helps increase user confidence

computer self-efficacy

motivations

attitude toward risk

information processing

learning style

all

The original table seems contradictory since the "Rank" filter is bolded but the numbers on the right side don't seem to be in order. However, the numbers on the right are actually the number of publications for each university and doesn't affect the rank.

Computer Self-Efficacy: A user with low computer self-efficacy blames themselves for not understanding why the "Rank" filter doesn't match the ordering of the numbers on the right. This would either cause them to spend more time attempting to understand it or abandon the task worried that they did something incorrectly.

Also affects users with: task-oriented motivation, risk aversion, comprehensive information processing style, process-oriented learning style

The numbers on the right side of the table were removed.

Computer Self-Efficacy: Now a user with low computer self-efficacy isn't confused by the inconsistency between filters and numbers and can confidently proceed. This solution also doesn't hurt users with high computer self-efficacy.

Removing contradicting information can also help users with: task-oriented motivation, risk aversion, comprehensive information processing style, process-oriented learning style

Evidence: This redesign was created by Vorvoreanu et al. and validated through a user study.

Remove pointless barriers

Removing unfamiliar barriers helps task-oriented users move forward

motivations

attitude toward risk

learning style

computer self-efficacy

all

Users must sign into Canvas to access general information.

Motivations: If a task-oriented user is faced with performing extra steps (especially involving personal information) on the way to their goal; they feel obstructed by these unfamiliar barriers, and will abandon the task.

Also affects users with: risk aversion, process-oriented learning style, low computer self-efficacy

Now, users don't have to go through a sign-in page to see a list of common tasks.

Motivations: By removing the sign-in barrier, task-motivated users can freely access general information with performing unfamiliar steps.

Taking down unfamilar barriers can also help users with: risk aversion, process-oriented learning style, low computer self-efficacy

Break into bullets

Step-by-step instructions benefit selective information processors

motivations

computer self-efficacy

information processing

open-source

all

There are no step-by-step instructions or directions to the "issue list".

Information Processing Style: A user with selective information processing style wants to clearly locate the required information without be overwhelmed by extra text.

Also affects users with: task-oriented motivations, low computer self-efficacy

Numbered step-by-step instructions were added as well as a direct link to the "issue list".

Information Processing Style: This solution directs users with selective information processing style to a list of instructions instead of a paragraph. The "issue list" is hyperlinked and doesn't require additional navigation. This also doesn't prevent tinkerers from learning through exploration.

Incorporating numbered lists and hyperlinks also help users with: task-oriented motivations, low computer self-efficacy

Evidence: This redesign was validated in a user study (to appear).