Usability of iStudyGuides: A confirmatory factor analysis model

Main Article Content

Henry Khiat
Koh Yun Xuan

Abstract

With the advances of technology, technological learning tools are becoming more important in enabling learners to study more effectively. The pre-requisite for the success of any technological learning tool hinges on its usability or technical ease of use. A tool that is not usable has the undesired effect of disrupting the user’s learning as more time is expended on learning the tool than the contents (Wong, Nguyen, Chang & Jayaratna, 2003). Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore and uncover the dimensions of the usability of the interactive e-study guide known as the iStudyGuide used as one of the main learning resources in the context of SIM University (UniSIM). Therefore, the research question in this study is “What are the dimensions that determine the usability of iStudyGuides?”. It employs a survey research methodology, utilising the statistical methods of exploratory and confirmation factor analysis. Data are collected from 278 students who used iStudyGuides in their learning at UniSIM. In the confirmatory factor analysis process, Bollen-Stine bootstrap p = 0.688. CFI = 0.996, RMSEA = 0.026 and PCLOSE= 0.918. The confirmatory factor analysis shows that the final model of usability of the iStudyGuides that comprises of the dimension of reliability, utility, learnability, accessibility and control has a good fit on the data. The emergence of the model of usability of iStudyGuides sets as the basis that iStudyGuides can be evaluated to ensure quality assurance in terms of usability.

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Khiat, H., & Yun Xuan, K. (2014). Usability of iStudyGuides: A confirmatory factor analysis model. Journal of Teaching and Learning With Technology, 3(2), 54–66. https://doi.org/10.14434/jotlt.v3n2.12967
Section
Articles
Author Biography

Henry Khiat, SIM University

Lecturer, Teaching and Learning Centre, SIM University461 Clementi RoadSingapore 599491

References

Baber, C. (2002). Subjective evaluation of usability. Ergonomics, 45(14), 1021-1025. doi: 10.1080/00140130210166807

Bernérus, A., & Zhang, J. (2010). A Peek at the Position of Pedagogical Aspects in Usability Evaluation of E-learning System-A Literature Review of Usability Evaluation of E-learning System conducted since 2000. Retrieved from https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/23482/1/gupea_2077_23482_1.pdf on 27 May 2014.

Bevan, N. (1995). Measuring usability as quality of use. Software Quality Journal, 4(2), 115130. doi: 10.1007/BF00402715

Blandford, A., & Buchanan, G. (2002). Usability for digital libraries. In IEEE-CS Technical Committee on Digital Libraries' on-line Newsletter. doi: 10.1145/544220.544374

Booth, P. A. (1989). An introduction to human-computer interaction. Psychology Press.

Brooke, J. (1991, September). Usability, change, adaptable systems and community computing. In Proceedings Fourth International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (Vol. 2, pp. 1093-1097).

Brophy, P., & Craven, J. (2007). Web accessibility. Library Trends, 55(4), 950-972. doi: 10.1353/lib.2007.0029

Caldwell, B., Chisholm, W., Slatin, J., Vanderheiden, G., & White, J. (2006). Web content accessibility guidelines 2.0. W3C working draft, 27.

Chiu, C. H., Hung, C. M., & Street, S. L. (2009). Evaluation of Applications of Personal Digital Assistants in Elementary Education. WSEAS Transactions on Advances in Engineering Education, 443-453.

Chung, J., & Reigeluth, C. M. (1992). Instructional prescriptions for learner control. Educational Technology, 32(10), 14-20.

Constantine, L. L., & Lockwood, L. A. (1999). Software for use: a practical guide to the models and methods of usage-centered design. Pearson Education.

Davis, F. D., Bagozzi, R. P., & Warshaw, P. R. (1989). User acceptance of computer technology: A comparison of two theoretical models. Management science, 35(8), 982-1003. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.35.8.982

Dee, C., & Allen, M. (2006). A survey of the usability of digital reference services on academic health science library web sites. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 32(1), 69-78. doi: 10.1016/j.acalib.2005.11.001

Demers, L., Weiss-Lambrou, R., & Ska, B. (1996). Development of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology (QUEST). Assistive Technology, 8(1), 3–13. doi:10.1080/10400435.1996.10132268

Drummond, J. S., & Themessl-Huber, M. (2007). The cyclical process of action research: The contribution of Gilles Deleuze. Action Research, 5(4), 430–448. doi:10.1177/1476750307077317

Elissavet, G., & Economides, A. A. (2000). Evaluation factors of educational software. Proceedings International Workshop on Advanced Learning Technologies. IWALT 2000. Advanced Learning Technology: Design and Development Issues. doi: 10.1109/iwalt.2000.890581

Hashim, A. S., Ahmad, W. F. W., & Ahmad, R. (2011). Mobile learning course content application as a revision tool: The effectiveness and usability. 2011 International Conference on Pattern Analysis and Intelligence Robotics. doi: 10.1109/icpair.2011.5976941

Hix, D., & Hartson, H. R. (1993). Developing user interfaces: ensuring usability through product & process. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

International Organization for Standardization. (1998). ISO 9241-11: Ergonomic Requirements for Office Work with Visual Display Terminals (VDTs): Part 11: Guidance on Usability.

Jordan, P. W. (2002). Designing pleasurable products: An introduction to the new human factors. CRC Press. doi:10.1162/desi.2002.18.1.87

Kirakowski, J., & Corbett, M. (1993). SUMI: the Software Usability Measurement Inventory. British Journal of Educational Technology, 24(3), 210–212. doi:10.1111/j.14678535.1993.tb00076.x

Lamb, R. (1995). Using online resources: Reaching for the *.*s. In Digital Libraries’95, F. M. Shipman, R. Furuta, and D. M. Levy, 137–46. Austin, TX: Department of Computer Science, Texas A&M University.

Lewis, J. R. (1995). IBM computer usability satisfaction questionnaires: Psychometric evaluation and instructions for use. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 7(1), 57–78. doi:10.1080/10447319509526110

Lindholm, C., & Keinonen, T. (2003). Mobile Usability: How Nokia Changed the Face of the Cellular Phone. McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Milheim, W. D., & Martin, B. L. (1991). Theoretical bases for the use of learner control: Three different perspectives. Journal of Computer-Based Instruction. 18(3), 99-105.

Nielsen, J. (1994). Usability engineering. Elsevier.

MacCallum, R. C., Widaman, K. F., Zhang, S., & Hong S. (1999). Sample size in factor analysis. Psychological Methods, 4, 84-99.

Oulanov, A., & Pajarillo, E. J. Y. (2002). CUNY+ Web: usability study of the Web-based GUI version of the bibliographic database of the City University of New York (CUNY). The Electronic Library, 20(6), 481–487. doi:10.1108/02640470210454001

Rauch, M. (2011). Mobile documentation: Usability guidelines, and considerations for providing documentation on Kindle, tablets, and smartphones. 2011 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference. doi:10.1109/ipcc.2011.6087221

Rogers, Y., Sharp, H., & Preece, J. (2011). Interaction design: beyond human-computer interaction. John Wiley & Sons.

Shneiderman, B. (1992). Designing the user interface: strategies for effective human-computer interaction (Vol. 2). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Siritongthaworn, S., Krairit, D., Dimmitt, N. J., & Paul, H. (2006). The study of e-learning technology implementation: A preliminary investigation of universities in Thailand. Education and Information Technologies, 11(2), 137–160. doi:10.1007/s11134-006-7363-8

Swett, C. (2002, October). College students’ use of mobile wireless internet connections becomes more common. Knight Ridder Tribune Business News.

Thomas, R. L., & Adviser-Kazlauskas, E. J. (1998). Elements of performance and satisfaction as indicators of the usability of digital spatial interfaces for information-seeking: Implications for ISLA. University of Southern California.

Williams M.D. (1996) Learner-control and instructional technologies. In Handbook of Research for Educational Communications and Technology (ed. D.H. Jonassen). Simon and Schuster Macmillan, New York.

Wong, S. K. (Brian), Nguyen, T. T., Chang, E., & Jayaratna, N. (2003). Usability Metrics for Elearning. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 235–252. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-39962-9_34

Yordanova, K. (2007). Mobile learning and integration of advanced technologies in education. Proceedings of the 2007 International Conference on Computer Systems and Technologies CompSysTech ’07. doi:10.1145/1330598.1330695

Zaharias, P., & Poylymenakou, A. (2009). Developing a usability evaluation method for elearning applications: Beyond functional usability. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 25(1), 75-98. doi: 10.1080/10447310802546716