About our study

Current software development techniques are guided by designers or developers who are responsible for designing, developing and running tests on the interface. Usually the consequence is an one-size-fits- all solution aimed at an average user.

We are currently running a study called “Reinventing the Web To Suit You” that aims to improve the usability, accessibility and user experience of Web applications by adapting its design and functionalities to the desires of each user. The goal of this study is to try to understand what changes users would like to make in the Web applications they use in their day the day. We will give to users the freedom to change any component of a web page and test the benefits of their solution.

What will I have to do as part of the study?

As part of this study we will initially ask you to register for a period of two weeks whenever you feel frustrated or encounter a problem while visiting your usual websites. This will be a sort of a diary of Web experiences where you can write whenever you encounter an unpleasant situation on these websites. For your convenience this registration will be as flexible as possible (online or in paper).

In the middle of the two-week study period, you will participate in an online participatory design session with a maximum duration of 1 hour. During this session you will work together with one of the members of the research team to redesign a set of websites (those where you have previously encountered some type of problem) according to your personal likings and needs. The researcher's role is to interact with the computer and make the changes that will be suggested or approved by you. The research team will never need to interact with your computer or ask you for websites login details. You will have access to the modified version of the websites to use on a daily basis.

To conclude our study, we will schedule a meeting with the other participants of the study for an online group session with a maximum duration of 1 hour. In this session we would like to generate a healthy discussion about the point of view that each individual has about the Web and how it can be improved to provide a better experience for its users.

If you are available to collaborate, or know someone who might be interested, please complete the following questionnaire: https://bit.ly/3l63oby

After the study has been completed you will be compensated with an Amazon gift card of £25.

Week 1 and 2: Diary of Web Experiences
Week 2: An individual website personalization session
Week 3: A group session with other participants

What are the possible benefits of participating?

According to our experience, people like to participate in studies that promote communication with scientists. You will be contributing to the development of tools that allow the customization and adaptation of Web pages to the needs of its users. You may also keep using the versions of the websites modified by you during this study.

Meet our team

The research team is composed of researchers from NorSC, Northumbria University, and Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon.

Picture of Kyle Montague

Kyle Montague

Kyle Montague

Associate Professor, NorSC, Northumbria University

Picture of Tiago Guerreiro

Tiago Guerreiro

Tiago Guerreiro

Professor, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon

Picture of Sérgio Alves

Sérgio Alves

Sérgio Alves

PhD Student, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon

Contacts