Designing and Testing Instructions

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Designing and TestingInstructions

• October 16-18, 2007

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Value of User Analysis

• User analysis forces designers to ask
• What do users need to do?
• What do users need to know?
• When, where, and why will a user read any
  instructions I write?
• These are all questions of context.

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Reader Analysis Chart
Source Johnson-Sheehan, pp. 46-47
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User Profiles

• Profiles help designers to visualize users and so
  write for them instead of themselves
• User profiles
• Usually short descriptions or biographies
• Might include a photograph
• Turn needs, values, attitudes into an image of
  a realistic person

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Example User Context

• Step 1 Identify the task
• Parallel Parking Your Car
• Step 2 Identify a user to write for
• Learning driver, poor vision?
• Experienced driver, new luxury car?
• Step 3 Think about where the user will do the
  task
• Late at night, few other cars, lots of room for
  error?
• Middle of the day, many other cars, little room
  for error?
• What other factors might make a difference?

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Example Goals

• Step 4 Identify your goals for writing
• To explain a task so that the user can complete
  it
• To reduce the users resistance to your
  explanation
• To make your instructions so intuitive that the
  user wont always need to read them

User Task ? User (You) Task ?
Well Instructed User Task ?
Adapted from Johnson 1998
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Example Page Design 1

• Step 5 Link user profile to page design options
• E.g. John, a new learning driver with poor
  vision
• Paper type and size?
• Text color scheme?
• Font size?
• Headings number and placement?
• Vocabulary and sentence type?
• Cautions? Symbols?
• Diagrams? Photographs?
• Lists? Bullets? Paragraphs?

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Example Page Design 2

• Step 5 Link user profile to page design options
• E.g. Liz, an experienced driver with a new Lexus
• Paper type and size?
• Text color scheme?
• Font size?
• Headings number and placement?
• Vocabulary and sentence type?
• Cautions? Symbols?
• Diagrams? Photographs?
• Lists? Bullets? Paragraphs?

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Value of User Testing

• Lets designers to see instructions as they may be
  used
• Can reveal
• Background problems
• Missing or confusing steps
• Language errors
• Gives designers the chance to revise without
  penalty

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Your Instructions

• Planning Document
• Submitted Thursday October 10
• Topic
• Audience
• Exigency (users need)
• Conditions of use
• Approach to need and conditions
• Graphics

• Document Guidelines
• Final Version Due Tuesday October 23
• Situation (user profile, conditions of use)
• Context (descriptive title, background)
• Order (steps in sequence)
• Structure (1 action per step, long actions broken
  into stages, clear headings)
• Graphics (photo? flowchart? diagram?)
• Language (commands, vocabulary)
• Feedback (after stages or steps)
• Design (page layout)

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Resources

• Designing Instructions
• How to Write Instructions for Busy, Grouchy
  People
• http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/technical/instr
  uctions/index.html
• Instructions Checklist for Order, Structure, and
  Design
• http//www.ebstc.org/TechLit/plain0.html
• Testing Instructions
• Usability Testing What Is It? http//jerz.setonhi
  ll.edu/design/usability/intro.htm