This paper is an analysis of Intranets and Extranets at selected state libraries in the United States. The paper does not review World Wide Web sites designed for use by the general public; rather, it focuses on Web sites designed and delivered by the state library to a targeted audience, typically state government employees, state library…

A comparison of the performance of 10 employees using the current version of a Corporate Time Reporting Instruction and a revision prepared using Information Mapping (IM) indicates that subjects committed 54 percent fewer errors when using the IM version. Samples of both versions and evaluation forms used are included. (MER)

An order form used in a university printing office was evaluated, redesigned, and tested to determine whether the original or the revised version could be completed more quickly and accurately. Two types of subjects were used: six "experienced" subjects who had previously used the old version of the form, and six "novice" subjects who had never…

A survey of 194 graduate students compared the old and new formats of "Esquire" magazine, combining two issues of each format in a sequence of four viewing pairs (to negate possible bias effects of content). The subjects indicated their preferences and reasons for preferences for old and new logos, typefaces, tables of content formats,…

Learner preferences for varying screen density levels were examined using multiple screen designs (high external validity) and single screen designs (high internal validity). Subjects were 23 graduate and 23 undergraduate student volunteers. When viewing multiple screens for each design in Study I, they indicated the highest preference for medium…

Effective navigation is becoming more and more critical to the success of electronic commerce (E-commerce). It remains a challenge for educational technologists and Web designers to develop Web systems that can help customers find products or services without experiencing disorientation problems and cognitive overload. Many E-commerce Web sites…

The research reported in this article provides descriptions of design activities and of the evolving designs of expert procedural and expert object-oriented (OO) designers and for novice OO designers with extensive procedural experience. Analysis of procedural and OO designers, in terms of their cognitive activities, design strategies, and final…

To identify an easy and effective method by which the classroom teacher can expand student art preferences, this study examined three suggested approaches: habituation; art criticism (Feldman-Mittler Methodology); and art production (studio activities). Combinations of these approaches were studied in interaction with students' grade level. (SJL)

Provides methods for the systematic redesign of a library Web site through comparing baseline data changes in use brought about by design changes. Shows how complementary information, based on Web users' log statistics and direct observations of users, can enhance a library Web site. Relates this information to practical Web site decisions that…

A study was conducted to examine newspaper readers' responses to front page design and to explore the perceived differences among traditional, modern, and modular formats of newspaper design. Slides of the front pages of 10 pairs of competing daily newspapers were shown to 91 journalism students. After viewing three slides for each paper, subjects…

This paper compares and discusses the results from two user studies of interactive television (ITV) with a total of 50 subjects. The interfaces of two different ITV information services were studied: one with a place-like interface rich in graphics, animation and audio, and the other a simple interface with text and still images. In the first…

"Design Inspection Reviews" are structured meetings in which participants follow certain rules of procedure and behavior when conducting detailed readings of design plans to identify errors and misunderstandings. The technique is widely used in the software engineering industry, where it is demonstrably more effective than testing at…

Investigates the effects of single- and multiple-window displays on the achievement of fourth-grade students during computer-assisted instruction by applying research-based window design guidelines. Results showed that, although there were no differences in window use, high ability students in the single window treatment demonstrated higher…