Usability and Accessibility Testing in Support of Internet Reporting Fifty-third Plenary Session of the Conference of European Statisticians Geneva, June, 2005 Elizabeth D. Murphy, Ph.D. U.S. Census Bureau

Overview Purposes of testing Testing prototypes of the Census Internet form: 2000 – 2005 Steps in completing the Internet form –Examples from log-in requirement Major lessons learned

Purposes of Testing Usability Accessibility

Testing Prototypes of the Census Internet Form: Census National Census Test 2004 Overseas Enumeration Test 2005 National Census Test

Steps in Accessing and Completing the Internet Form Receive and open mailing package Learn about Internet option Arrive at housing unit log-in screen Start form >>> Submit data Receive “Thank You” screen and exit

Log-in Requirement in Census 2000 “What…where is my Census ID Number?”

Census 2000: Graphic in Help

2005 National Census Test: Prototype Log-in Screen Before usability testing with 22 test users “Do I have a Census ID number? What ID?”

2005 National Census Test: Revised Log-in Screen After changes based on usability findings

Major Lessons Learned Completing the online form itself is not a problem. Cumbersome, confusing log-in process >> loss of respondents Usability and accessibility testing reveal problems not revealed by other kinds of software testing. A smooth experience for the respondent requires end-to-end design.