Web Content Studies

[IslaScotts]

I have been researching (for the heck of it) studies on credibility, readability, reliability, and habits of users. I found a few interesting studies today, and I was wondering if anyone else wanted to add some links to studies they found useful or meaningful. And furthermore; do you think studies like these can give an accurate description of the average user out there?

http://www.consumerwebwatch.org/pdfs/stanfordPTL.pdf

[A.N.Onym]

Well, the entire government websites, such as http://credibility.stanford.edu and www.usability.gov are based on research and present good sources of information for a start.

A study only gives you results about a fixed amount of people. You have to use a lot of people in your study to be sure in the results you present.

That's why, though the above sources may be good, the real gems come out of real user testing on real websites - in website optimization practice.

You may find http://blog.mindvalley.com or http://www.marketingexperiments.com interesting, if you want something, based on research.

[IslaScotts]

Thanks! What do you think about designing webpages based off of how people's eyes move over a typical website? Do you think particular placement of common website objects would actually yield a better result?

[MrMean]

My wildest guess would be it has a lot to do with how the visitor reads a book which is normally left to right and then down.

A good topic though, I will read that PDF.

[IslaScotts]

Actually they dont... look up the f-reading factor in regards to websites.
It is really interesting.

[John Scott]

That pdf is a must-read.

[suzjor]

Thanks for sharing.

[A.N.Onym]

Well, every website will have its own eye movement pattern, so there isn't much common elements placement.

Of course, there are logos in the top left, top or left navigation, footer, but the rest, smaller, elements should be placed, depending on what the site customers need and what the site has to offer.

I'd think that A/B testing is more effective than eye-tracking. Sure, you can use some mouse-tracking software to test the user click paths, but if you need to test a lot of visitors, site adjustments and precise statistics is the way, IMHO.

[Julie]

Eye movement pattern also is somewhat influenced by the design of the site - the colors, placement of objects, and the overall "flow". It's kind of the same principles they drill into your head in art school.

[LazyJim]

The trick is to anticipate where the user expects certain elements to be, and position them acordingly in the layout, while at the same time directing them with visual cues and feedback.

[IslaScotts]

Originally Posted by LazyJim

The trick is to anticipate where the user expects certain elements to be, and position them acordingly in the layout, while at the same time directing them with visual cues and feedback.

Exactly.. this is what my research for this information has lead me. I think it is very informative how people "read" a website. They don't read it.. they scan it for words they are looking for. If they find them, they read that sentence.. and continue to read more if they are finding the words and context they need. The generally look in two areas. Middle and down the left. So I think putting useful keywords in the left and middle will draw more people deeper into the site. Of course this all rwally comes down to how well you know your audience.. how well you know your clientel.

[Cricket]

Along the same lines I have been spending some time looking into how visitors respond with the different types of shopping carts on our websites. A friend of mine pointed out the following article to me.
http://psychology.wichita.edu/surl/u...oppingcart.htm

[IslaScotts]

Originally Posted by Cricket

Along the same lines I have been spending some time looking into how visitors respond with the different types of shopping carts on our websites. A friend of mine pointed out the following article to me.
http://psychology.wichita.edu/surl/u...oppingcart.htm

Oh my gosh! This is a wonderful article. I never am involved with clients who use shopping carts but I love reading research. Knowledge is not only power, it is quite fun! Thanks (better get back to reading that article!)

[referencement]

Thinks IslaScotts, It is what I need.