Heuristic evaluation of a Web-based Educational Resource for low literacy NICU parents

Abstract

"Web-based Educational Resources for the NICU Parent," an educational website for low literacy families, was developed and implemented as prototype web pages using Macromedia Dreamweaver MX. Research has shown that evaluating a website before its implementation can reduce usability errors and improve the overall interface design. As an initial assessment of the website's interface, a heuristic evaluation was conducted with a sample of three usability experts. The usability experts reviewed the website with typical case scenario and completed an evaluation form covering ten usability heuristics. The task was completed in approximately one and a half hours; 82 heuristic violations were reported. The heuristic violations noted on the evaluation forms and the experts' verbalizations captured by a usability testing tool (Morae) were content analyzed and categorized based on the potential design solutions to be implemented: function, design and layout, content, and navigation. Approximately 88% of the violations were resolved by implementing these solutions. The study findings suggest that the heuristic evaluation was an efficient and inexpensive method for evaluating the low literacy interface of the "Web-based Educational Resources for the NICU Parent."