To: Professor Grogan

From: Darpan Sodhi

Date: February 26, 2017

Subject: User Test Memo

Introduction
The WikiHow article How to Do Basic Figure Skating Techniques, intends to show beginner skaters
how to perform basic techniques that are essential to know within figure skating.

Usability tests were conducted in order to test if the target audience would be able to follow and most
importantly understand this instruction set. Two levels of users were tested: beginner skaters and
advanced skaters. Beginner skaters were tested in order to identify the portions of the instruction set
which were too confusing without experience as a figure skater. The advanced skaters were tested in
order to validate that the instructions given were an accurate representation of the techniques that are
being portrayed.

The information gathered through this usability test was very valuable because it gave me perspective
other than my own. Since I am an experienced skater, the level that I see as beginner is slightly different
than beginner skaters may perceive. The beginner figure skating users taught me the importance of
defining specific terms and specific movements which come as second nature to me. Furthermore, the
advanced skaters helped me to validate that all key elements of the techniques were included. Through
testing them, I was able to realize steps that I forgot to mention or details that were essential to mention
within each step.

The articles on WikiHow intend to provide structured directions on various types of skills to people all
over the world ("How to Format a WikiHow Article"). By conducting research on how well the
instruction set made for WikiHow reaches the target audience is the perfect way to ensure that this goal
is met. As there are many articles already on WikiHow that explain important skills for beginner skaters
to keep in mind, my WikiHow article can build on these articles.

Objectives: Test Understanding and Effectiveness of Instruction Set

As stated by Anderson, usability tests are important in order to verify that the task intended is what is
actually being communicated to the audience through the instruction set (382). The overall goal of
conducting the usability test was to receive feedback on how clear the specific figure skating
instructions were to individuals who had little to no experience figure skating. With this, I could change
the wording or diagrams within my instructions accordingly.

Specifically, from these usability tests, I wanted to see if it really allowed the user to remember what
an outside and inside edge are. This instruction set is heavy on understanding what these phrases mean
in order to perform each different technique within this instruction set. If the user was able to tell me
what an outside and inside edge was on each foot during the usability test, it would reflect that the
instructions were clear enough for a beginner skater to follow.

Another important goal within my usability test was to see how helpful the images and references were
within my instruction set. Through this, I could see whether they were an excess component to my
instruction set or a necessity for following each and every step.

After my first in class test, a very important new goal that I created was to emphasize that these
techniques take more than one try to perfect. This issue came up while testing a few of my beginner
users and at the end of the test I needed to clarify to them that figure skating is something that takes
multiple sessions of practice to perfect. Due to this, I chose to test an individual who is learning skating
currently to see how well they responded to the instruction set.

Method: Understandability, Performance, and Location Tests on Three beginner and one
advanced skater
My usability test consisted of both performance, location, and understandability tests. The performance
test was conducted on one beginner/intermediate skater who has been learning how to skate for a
month. The understandability and location tests were conducted on two beginner skaters and an
advanced skater.

The first thing to be conducted was the understandability test. In order to do this, the user was asked
to locate a specific method: Method 1 Skating on a Right Outside Edge. Then they were to read Method
3: Skating on a Right Inside Edge. Once they read each of these, the user was asked to describe each
separately and then describe the differences between the two methods. This gave me a clear idea of
whether the specific details of each method were detailed enough where they could tell the difference
between edges on the same foot. This was repeated for Method 6: Doing a Left Outside 3-Turn and
Method 8: Doing a Left Inside 3-Turn. This part was able to tell me if the change in edges within each
type of 3-turn was able to be distinguished.

A location test is important to test the organization within the instruction set (Anderson 384). Within
my location test, I made the user read three random methods. I would look at which 3 methods they
read as they were doing it and then I would ask them to locate a picture and a method showing a specific
edge being used within any of these methods. This was able to clearly tell me if this instruction set was
organized enough to teach the reader about edges, and not simply 8 methods that were scrambled.

A performance test is an essential way to distinguish how effective your instruction set is (382). Within
the performance test, the user was given the instruction set to read one method at time. After they read
each method and they felt that they understood it, they were to try and perform the specific method. If
they had any questions while reading the instruction set or during the performance, the questions
wouldnt be answered until they finished the method. However, they were allowed to look at the
instruction set multiple times during the performance test if they forgot which step was next. This was
able to show me the exact positioning that the user would go into with each step and see if the correct
formation was being made each time.

Results/Discussion: Feedback from Users

The results for each type of usability test as well as changes made due to them are explained below.
All of the summarized recorded feedback is shown in Appendix A.
 Understandability Test
o Unsure whether they could perform this perfectly at the first try
o Confused about when arms should switch direction
o Like how there are links right at the beginning to use other sources
Due to these results from the understandability tests, I decided to add an extra bullet within the Tips
section of my article emphasizing that these methods need to be practiced over and over to get them to
flow on the ice as it is shown in the instructions. I made sure to go back to each step that says to switch
arms and put a specific picture showing where on the half circle the arms were switched. The specific
change is shown in Appendix B.

Location Test
o Could easily find a right outside edge example
o Could easily identify where the user would be skating on an inside edge
o Easily found references in introduction
o References are even more detailed to help if this instruction set isnt understood
The location test verified that my instruction set was organized and easy to follow. Everything was
placed under the correct heading so that the user would not have a hard time finding a specific method
that they wanted to. It also verified that the instructions were clear enough that the user could go back
and identify a specific technique after reading the instructions.

Performance Test
o Having a hard time getting a full method correct on the first try
o Took a few tries to get the arms and feet to stay in the correct position
o Cant keep himself on the correct inside edge once he makes the right 3-turn
o Can complete the method up to reaching the top of half circle, but loses speed and cant
finish the entire half circle for the edge. He just stops in the middle.
Based on the results from the performance test, I moved my tip about needing to practice to make it
perfect as the first bullet within the tips section. I did this to put further emphasis to the user that this
isnt an instruction set that can be mastered by a beginner skater the first time that it is done.
Furthermore, within each step which indicated pushing back with a foot, I included extra instructions
that they should aim to achieve a sufficient speed to be able to complete the rest of the instruction set.
This emphasized the need for speed in each method.

Conclusion
Based on the three types of usability tests performed, I was able to ensure that the instruction set created
was feasible for beginner skaters to use without any help from advanced skaters. I was able to
determine the importance of full body pictures on the ice during specific movements to clarify any
confusion to users about location on half circle during each step. I made sure to put significant emphasis
on the fact that this is an instruction set that is very hard to master on the first try as well as the fact
that speed is a key component in these instructions.

The results found through these three usability tests were very significant to ensure that the instruction
set was easy to follow for anyone, not just an intermediate to advanced figure skater. Since I was able
to see the struggle beginner skaters had analyzing and performing the instructions, I revised my
instructions accordingly to make sure enough detail was included in each step to leave no room for
confusion for my WikiHow target users.
 Works Cited

Anderson, Paul V. Technical Communication: A Reader Centered Approach. 8th ed.

Wadsworth: Michael Rosenberg, 2014. Print.

"How to Format a WikiHow Article." WikiHow. MediaWiki, n.d. Web. Feb. 23 2017.
Appendix

Appendix A: Feedback from Usability Tests

Summarized Feedback from Understandability and Location Tests:

Summarized Feedback from Performance Test:
Appendix B: Specific Changes in Instruction Set

The picture change made on all arm switch steps to clarify placement on half circle is shown
within Figure 1 and Figure 2:

Figure 1: Original type of picture used for switching arms steps

Figure 2: Change in made in pictures used for switching arms steps

The change made to emphasize speed in each step is shown below in Figure 3 and Figure
4:
Figure 3: Original Directions given to push forward

Figure 4: Change in Directions given to push forward