Using content analysis and web design heuristics to evaluate informational web sites: an exploratory study

Author(s):  
A.L. Bartell
2011 ◽  
pp. 1358-1378
Author(s):  
Shailey Minocha

Effective advertising, good usability, and creating value are important in an e-commerce environment to attract and retain customers. In the human–computer interaction (HCI) literature, research into the success or failure of business to consumer (B2C) e-commerce sites has primarily focussed on usability. While increasing usability is important, even if an e-commerce Web site conforms to the Web design heuristics and usability guidelines, it might not always generate a positive total customer experience (TCE). Therefore, it is important that along with usability heuristics, customer relationship management (CRM) strategies are integrated into the design of the e-commerce environments for developing robust and long-term online customer–organisation relationships. We report on a project that is part of an ongoing cross-disciplinary research programme at the Open University, United Kingdom, which aims to integrate HCI and CRM strategies into the design and evaluation of e-commerce environments. In this project, we examined the customer’s interaction with e-commerce environments and how a B2C relationship can be effectively supported from a customer’s perspective. Based on intensive research that involved collecting data from naturalistic observations of customers shopping on e-tailing environments, interviews, group interviews, and by identifying the negative incidents or obstacles that mar the customer’s TCE, we have developed E-SEQUAL (E-SErvice QUALity), a framework for online service quality. E-SEQUAL is an evaluation instrument consisting of e-CRM (CRM for e-economy) or customer relationship-enhancing heuristics and HCI heuristics which can be applied to integrate customers’ perceived dimensions of service quality into the design and development of e-commerce environments. E-SEQUAL can provide guidance to e-businesses regarding integration of front- and back-end business processes, and across different customer touch points such as phone, fax, e-mail, and so on. It can be applied by Web designers, marketing professionals, and developers to come up with requirements for integrating customers’ expectations, and perceptions of service quality and value into the design of e-commerce Web sites. Furthermore, it can be used as an evaluation instrument by usability professionals for evaluating the conformance of an e-commerce environment against HCI (usability) and e-CRM heuristics.


Author(s):  
Kimberly Bender ◽  
Rich Furman

This article explores sex tourism and possible concerns for the male sex tourist through a content analysis of sex tourism web sites. This qualitative, exploratory study describes the manner in which sex tour web sites attract and maintain male customers. Findings related to men’s psychosocial health are placed within an international context. Recommendations are made that pertain to international social welfare.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason David Rivera, PhD ◽  
Zachary David Wood, MA

This exploratory study sought to observe the perceptions, usage, and planned management of spontaneous volunteers in disaster planning and response within various urban environments. The authors discuss the perceptions of spontaneous volunteerism in America, specifically the challenges of using spontaneous volunteers in disaster response activities. A content analysis of the 50 largest cities in the US Office of Emergency Management Web sites and a survey instrument administered to emergency managers in these 50 cities were used to explore various questions raised throughout the discussion of the literature. The authors found significant discrepancies between what is stated in the disaster plans of cities and what emergency managers claim is covered in their plans. Of the managers surveyed, only a handful mention spontaneous volunteers in their plans at all, and even fewercities discuss them extensively. In addition, stated perceptions of the value of spontaneous volunteers may impact both how we plan for them and the value they provide.


Author(s):  
Shailey Minocha ◽  
Liisa H. Dawson ◽  
Ann Blandford ◽  
Nicola Millard

Effective advertising, good usability, and creating value are important in an e-commerce environment to attract and retain customers. In the human–computer interaction (HCI) literature, research into the success or failure of business to consumer (B2C) e-commerce sites has primarily focussed on usability. While increasing usability is important, even if an e-commerce Web site conforms to the Web design heuristics and usability guidelines, it might not always generate a positive total customer experience (TCE). Therefore, it is important that along with usability heuristics, customer relationship management (CRM) strategies are integrated into the design of the e-commerce environments for developing robust and long-term online customer–organisation relationships. We report on a project that is part of an ongoing cross-disciplinary research programme at the Open University, United Kingdom, which aims to integrate HCI and CRM strategies into the design and evaluation of e-commerce environments. In this project, we examined the customer’s interaction with e-commerce environments and how a B2C relationship can be effectively supported from a customer’s perspective. Based on intensive research that involved collecting data from naturalistic observations of customers shopping on e-tailing environments, interviews, group interviews, and by identifying the negative incidents or obstacles that mar the customer’s TCE, we have developed E-SEQUAL (E-SErvice QUALity), a framework for online service quality. E-SEQUAL is an evaluation instrument consisting of e-CRM (CRM for e-economy) or customer relationship-enhancing heuristics and HCI heuristics which can be applied to integrate customers’ perceived dimensions of service quality into the design and development of e-commerce environments. E-SEQUAL can provide guidance to e-businesses regarding integration of front- and back-end business processes, and across different customer touch points such as phone, fax, e-mail, and so on. It can be applied by Web designers, marketing professionals, and developers to come up with requirements for integrating customers’ expectations, and perceptions of service quality and value into the design of e-commerce Web sites. Furthermore, it can be used as an evaluation instrument by usability professionals for evaluating the conformance of an e-commerce environment against HCI (usability) and e-CRM heuristics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 65-65
Author(s):  
Ana Saraiva Amaral ◽  
Rosa Marina Afonso ◽  
Mário R. Simões ◽  
Sandra Freitas

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) prevalence is expected to continue to increase, due to the population ageing. MCI and AD may impact patients’ decision-making capacities, which should be assessed through the disease course. These medical conditions can affect the various areas of decision-making capacity in different ways. Decision-making capacity in healthcare is particularly relevant among this population. Elders often suffer from multimorbidity and are frequently asked to make healthcare decisions, which can vary from consenting a routine diagnostic procedure to decide receiving highly risk treatments.To assess this capacity in elders with MCI or AD, we developed the Healthcare Decision-Making Capacity Assessment Instrument (IACTD-CS - Instrumento de Avaliação da Capacidade de Tomada de Decisão em Cuidados de Saúde). This project is funded by Portuguese national funding agency for science, research and technology, FCT (SFRH/BD/139344/2018). IACTD-CS was developed based on Appelbaum and Grisso four abilities model, literature review and review of international assessment instruments. After IACTD-CS first version development, an exploratory study with focus groups was conducted. This study included focus groups with healthcare professionals and nursing homes’ professionals.The focus groups main goals were: 1) understand the participants perception regarding healthcare decision-making capacity, 2) distinguish relevant aspects of decision-making, 3) discuss the abilities and items included in IACTD-CS and 4) identify new aspects or items to be added to IACTD-CS. A content analysis of the focus groups results, with resource to MAXQDA, was conducted afterwards. This exploratory study allowed to identify professionals’ perceptions on healthcare decision-making and its results were a significant contribute to IACTD-CS development. The proposed communication aims to describe the methodology used and present the results of content analysis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 373-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michail Nerantzidis

Purpose – This paper provides evidence regarding the efficacy of the “comply or explain” approach in Greece and has three objectives: to improve our knowledge of the concept of this accountability mechanism, to elevate auditors’ potential role in the control of corporate governance (CG) statements and to contribute to the discussion about the reform of this principle; a prolonged dialogue that has been started by European Commission in the light of the recent financial crisis. Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken is a content analysis of CG statements and Web sites of a non-probability sample of 144 Greek listed companies on the Athens Stock Exchange for the year 2011. Particularly, 52 variables were evaluated from an audit compliance perspective using a coding scheme. From this procedure, the level of compliance with Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) code, as well as the content of the explanations provided for non-compliance, were rated. Findings – The results show that although the degree of compliance is low (the average governance rating is 35.27 per cent), the evaluation of explanations of non-compliance is even lower (from the 64.73 per cent of the non-compliance, the 40.95 per cent provides no explanation at all). Research limitations/implications – The research limitations are associated with the content analysis methodology, as well as the reliability of CG statements. Practical implications – This study indicates that companies on the one hand tend to avoid the compliance with these recommendation practices, raising questions regarding the effectiveness of the SEV code; while on the other, they are not in line with the spirit of the CG code, as they do not provide adequate explanations. These results assist practitioners and/or policy-makers in perceiving the efficacy of the “comply or explain” approach. Originality/value – While there is a great body of research that has looked into the compliance with best practices, this study is different because it is the first one that rates not only the degree of the compliance with the code’s practices but also the content of the explanations provided for non-compliance. This is particularly interesting because it adds to the body of research by providing a new approach in measuring the quality of the “comply or explain” principle in-depth.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 460-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan B. Shreffler ◽  
Meg G. Hancock ◽  
Samuel H. Schmidt

Unlike traditional media, which frames female athletes in sexualized manners and in socially accepted roles such as mothers and girlfriends, user-controlled social-media Web sites allow female athletes to control the image and brand they wish to portray to the public. Using Goffman’s theory of self-presentation, the current study aimed to investigate how female athletes were portraying themselves via their Twitter avatar pictures. A total of 207 verified Twitter avatars of female athletes from 6 sports were examined through a content analysis. The avatars from each player were coded using the following themes: athlete as social being, athlete as promotional figure, “selfie,” athletic competence, ambivalence, “girl next door,” and “sexy babe.” The results revealed that athletic competence was the most common theme, followed by selfie and athlete as social being. Thus, when women have the opportunity to control their image through social media they choose to focus on their athletic identities.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloana Ferreira D'Artibale ◽  
Luciana Olga Bercini

The aim of this study was to analyze the meanings and experiences of early contact and breastfeeding of the postpartum women admitted at a Baby-Friendly Hospital. It is a descriptive, exploratory study, with qualitative approach, that was developed in a teaching hospital in the Northwest of Paraná state between November 2011 and January 2012, involving the participation of 16 postpartum women. Data were collected by means of non-participant systematic observation of the childbirths and semi-structured interview. The data collected were analyzed using the thematic content analysis. The results revealed that, soon after childbirth, the child-mother binomial provided the woman with a unique experience, triggering various sensations into the bio-psycho-social-cultural context of each one of the mothers, with feelings and meanings that favored the mother-child bond and the outset of breastfeeding.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-105
Author(s):  
Said Adekunle Mikail ◽  
Muhammad Ali Jinnah Ahmad ◽  
Salami Saheed Adekunle

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the utilisation of both zakāh and waqf fund as external resources to ensure micro-takāful services are delivered to underserved communities in an effective and sustainable manner. It also addresses Sharīʿah issues related to the zakāh- and waqf-based model. Design/methodology/approach The study is a qualitative-based research. It uses both focus group and content analysis approach to gather primary data and identify and interpret relevant secondary data and Sharīʿah concepts in developing the zakāh- and waqf-based micro-takāful model. Findings It is discovered throughout the investigation of attributes of beneficiaries of zakāh and waqf institutions as well as micro-takāful scheme that all share commonalities in terms of social securities and socio-economic support to low-income households in societies. The study also finds that the disintegration of zakāh and waqf which form part of the Islamic ecosystem from the micro-takāful model makes it less effective and sustainable. Originality/value This study appears as a primitive attempt to discuss and develop a zakāh and waqf-based micro-takāful model with reference to Malaysian jurisdiction.


2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 968-973
Author(s):  
Vera Lúcia de Azevedo Lima ◽  
Maria de Lourdes de Souza ◽  
Marisa Monticelli ◽  
Marília de Fátima Vieira de Oliveira ◽  
Carlos Benedito Marinho de Souza ◽  
...  

This quantitative and exploratory study analyzed violence against Amazon women presented in print media according to type and severity, and whether aggressors fell under the Maria da Penha law. A total of 181 issues of a regional newspaper were consulted. Based on content analysis, 164 items addressing violence against women were selected and 46 were included in the corpus of analysis. Results were gathered in three thematic groups: women killed with cruelty, sexual violence against women regardless of age, and violence against women and the limitations of the Maria da Penha law. Violence against these women varied in terms of form and severity, including up to homicide. Women are submitted to sexual violence from childhood through adulthood. The enforcement of this law shows the community it has a means to cope with this social phenomenon.


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