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This month I looked at a card sorting tool, a diagramming
and wireframing tool, and a rapid prototyping tool.
Here are my thoughts:
OptimalSort |
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OptimalSort is an online card sorting tool
aimed at collecting and analysing a participant responses. Card sorting, is an effective method of
determining what users would label each category on a potential site, which in
turn provides useful guidelines for labelling and navigation decisions (see
Morville & Rosenfeld, 2007, p. 106, 256). In other words, it is a chance to
create a ‘user-centred taxonomy’ (Sauro, 2012, para. 1) and to increase the
‘findability’ of a site by ascertaining how users would group information and
navigate through the site (Spencer & Warfel, 2004, para. 3). Open sorting, in the case of the
OptimalSort free trial, involves participants sorting items into their own
category headings, as opposed to closed sorting, where headings are
provided.
2. What is the scope of the tool – how
many participants/users etc.?
In the free trial version which was tested here, the user is
allowed ten participant responses, and up to thirty sorting cards, and there is
no time limit on the trial. Both of
these become unlimited on purchase of the full version. As Tullis & Wood note (in Katsanos,
Tselios & Avouris, 2008. p. 875) ‘card-sorting study results can be stable
with 20 or even fewer participants…’ it would be advisable to purchase the full
application in order to have a larger group of participants involved – ten is on
the lean side of meaningful. Also,
card sorting is generally most effective when you are sorting for a small web
site, and when participants are expected to understand all the terms without
difficulty (Spencer & Warfel, 2004).
3. At what stage in the information architecture (IA) process
would you use it?
The open sort would be most effective near the beginning of
planning the web site, when a general set of content items has been tentatively
agreed upon, and a sense of how users would intuitively group these items is
needed. It is
important to learn from studies such as these in order to create effective labelling
schemes and to visualise just how the user will navigate through the site.
The closed sort would inform the team of user responses to categories once
some initial shaping of the (IA) has been done, and especially to test
working category headings (Morville & Rosenfeld, 2007, p. 271). It is still advisable to use card
sorting in conjunction with other research methods such as an ‘information needs
analysis or task analysis to ensure that the content being sorted meets user
needs’ (Spencer & Warfel, 2004, para. 6).
4. What are the practical applications
and in what settings?
Card sorting is best used in combination with other user research
methods, such as interviews and questionnaires, particularly those including
open-ended questions, and as Morville & Rosenfeld note (2007, p. 106), work
best with smaller sets of labels – (users need not be presented with the world’s
largest game of Solitaire).
5. What is the cost and time
involved?
Following the free trial period, subscription cost is $109.00 per month, or $990.00 per year, with unlimited studies, cards, questionnaires, and participant responses allowed. Other features of the full package include options for printable cards with bar codes, company branding/logo, password protection for studies, redirection of participants after each study, and an absence of advertising. Support includes complimentary email help for all users, and the option of consultant services for paying users, at $250.00 per hour (minimum four hours) remotely, or $20,000.00 for a consultant to visit your place of business for one week. With regard to time spent, the set-up of a ten-participant, 28-card survey took less than one hour in the free trial version.
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