Summary

The URC conducted a usability test of the Harvard Film Archive (HFA) website to better understand how users navigate and understand the HFA website.

Methodology & Participants

A usability test was conducted on the HFA website. There were two audiences, Harvard College students (2 participants) and community members (4 participants). Participants received a $25 dollar gift card for their time.

Research Questions

1. How does the HFA website help users understand the HFA as both a film collection resource and a cinematheque? (R1)
2. How do users understand and use the homepage on the HFA website? (R2)
3. How do users navigate the HFA website? (R3)
   1. To find collection information? (R3a)
   2. To find collection research policies? (R3b)
   3. To find ticketing and membership information? (R3c)
   4. To find previous programming? (R3d)
4. How do users search the collections on the HFA website? (R4)

Insights

Majority of participants view the HFA as a theater opposed to a collection.

During the interview when asked how they use the HFA website, participants use it to see upcoming films and to buy tickets to films. After the interview was completed many participants expressed surprise that there were collections and past program information on the website.

Recommendation

On the HFA homepage, have a way to show the dual role of the Film Archive. Consider the following two options, have a tagline on what the HFA is including that it is a place that houses film and prioritize showing collections on the website.

Majority of participants thought the HFA site was attractive.

The overall look and feel of the HFA website was continually complemented by participants during the interview, even when tasks were hard to complete.

Three navigation tasks were failed by over half of the participants because participants didn’t understand terms chosen for page titles.

Participants were unable to find membership information, previous programs, information on how to visit the collection.

• Participants failed the Membership information navigation task because they did not understand the word “Cinematheque.” When participants learned that this is another word for movie theater, they thought the page title should be “theater.”
• Participants failed the Previous Programs navigation task because they thought previous program information would be in the Calendar tab or they thought programs meant academic programs, not previous retrospective programs.