Page 67 - THE DUTCH TALKING TOUCH SCREEN QUESTIONNAIRE

Development of the Dutch Talking Touch Screen Questionnaire
sketches, storyboards, user interface specifications or interactive mock-ups are evaluated. This may take the form of the users exploring the design individually while giving comments about problems and possible improvements. Alternatively, the facilitator may ask the users to carry out tasks. This provides insight in the mental model of the users, their expectations, strategies, thoughts, emotions and opinions, but also terminology used to talk about functions. Outcomes are prioritized bottlenecks and suggestions for improvement. During usability testing users carry out predefined use scenarios (tasks) with the prototype individually. Their behaviors and tasks performance are recorded and judged by usability experts. Subjective information is gathered through questionnaires or interviews. Usability testing makes it possible to evaluate the system in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction [26].
User involvement with low literate persons poses some specific considerations [35]. To accommodate this group, all methods were adjusted in order to avoid offering information or asking questions in written form and requiring participants to respond in the same manner [31,13]. Also, since low literate persons are often ashamed of their limitations and insecure about their abilities [36], it is important for them to be in a familiar environment within a group of like-minded people who trust each other, in a relaxed atmosphere [37]. Researchers should devote ample time to introducing themselves, managing expectations and taking away possible considerations and worries. Also, participants should be rewarded for participation.
4.2 Participants: low literate persons
A group of ten adult native students of a basic reading and writing course in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, was approached through their teacher for participation. These people had already acknowledged their problems by attending the course and the associated admission exam and had become familiar with each other. They had also established a relationship with the teacher whom they appreciated and trusted. Consulting them as a group made them the majority within the setting, which seemed to empower the participants.
The teacher played an important role during the various sessions, all of which she attended. The fact that the teacher trusted the researchers, their methods and the way they handled the information provided by
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