Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines

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Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines. Search. 17. Many Web sites allow users to search for. information contained in the site. …

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Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines
Search
17
Many Web sites allow users to search for
information contained in the site. Users access the search capability by entering one or more keywords into an entry field-usually termed a ’search box.’ When there are words in the Web site that match the words entered by users, users are shown where in the Web site those words can be found.
Each page of a Web site should allow users to conduct a search. Usually it is adequate to allow simple searches without providing for the use of more advanced features. Users should be able to assume that both upper- and lowercase letters will be considered as equivalent when searching. The site’s search capability should be designed to respond to terms typically entered by users. Users should be notified when multiple search capabilities exist.
Where many users tend to conduct similar searches, sometimes it works best to provide search templates. Users tend to assume that any search they conduct will cover the entire site and not a subsite. The results presented to users as a result of searching should be useful and usable.
Search180
Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines
Search
17:1 Ensure Usable Search Results
Guideline: Ensure that the results of user searches provide the precise information being sought, and in a format that matches users’ expectations.
Comments: Users want to be able to use the results of a search to continue solving their problem. When users are confused by the search results, or do not immediately find what they are searching for, they become frustrated.
Sources: Amento, et al., 1999; Bailey and Koyani, 2004; Dumais, Cutrell and Chen, 2001; Nielsen, 2001a; Nielsen, et al., 2000; Pollock and Hockley, 1996; Rosenfeld and Morville, 2002; Spool, et al., 1997.
Example:
Returned search results in the main panel contain snippets of the searched page with the user’s search terms highlighted (allowing the user to gain a sense of the context in which the terms are used) and a clustered list of related search terms is contained in the left panel.
These search results are difficult to use. There is no discernable order and no ability to sort results by characteristics (e.g., price, size, etc.)
Strength of Evidence:
Relative Importance:
See page xxii
for detailed descriptions of the rating scales…