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Title of Study: nobile: Design and evaluation of a persuasive technology
application for social behavior change
Research Team: Principle Investigator: Zack Batsaikhan
Faculty Supervisor: Ana-Paula Correia, Ph.D !
This is a usability study on an interface. Please take your time in deciding if you would like to participate. Please feel free to ask questions at any time. No personal
or financial information will be collected during the session.
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INTRODUCTION!
The purpose of this study is to evaluate an interface designed to encourages people to have face-to-face interactions and reduce excessive use of smartphones by
challenging users to not use them.!
This usability study will help to develop a more usable product for general public. !
Participants will not get direct benefits other than reflect on their own use of mobile devices. However, this knowledge can be expected to ultimately provide significant opportunities to improve usability of interface system for general public. At the same time, it is expected that this study contributes to generalizable knowledge which will be used to help the society and its people to have meaningful
interpersonal communication, instead of sitting with their phones, give full attention to each other, empathize with each other, live life to the fullest, and be less clouded
by the illusion of digital companionship.
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DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURES!
If you agree to participate in this study, your participation will last for
approximately 60 minutes. !
During the study you may expect the following study procedures to be followed.!
1. The participants will complete a pre-survey questionnaire regarding demographic
information, their usage of mobile devices and the Internet.
2. The participants will perform a series of tasks on a mobile application interface
using an Android device.
3. The participants will "think aloud" (explain their actions as they perform them) and their interaction (tap, swipe and other gestures) with the interface and voice will
be recorded using a usability software, although participants face will never be recorded.
4. The data collected from this study will be analyzed both quantitatively (number of clicks required to complete tasks, number of error, etc.) and qualitatively (user verbal feedback while working on the task) in order to evaluate the interface. Names of the
respondents will be identified as pseudonyms.
5. The participants will be asked to complete a brief survey on their experience with the interface.
6. The participants will be asked a few brief interview questions concerning if they
felt encouraged to interact face-to-face with others.!
RISKS!
There are no foreseeable risks in this study. However, you may leave the study at
any time without penalty.!
BENEFITS!
Participants will not get direct benefits other than reflect on their own use of mobile devices. However, this knowledge can be expected to ultimately provide significant
opportunities to increase face-to-face interactions. !
COSTS AND COMPENSATION!
If you agree to partake in this study you will receive $5 cash as compensation.!
PARTICIPANT RIGHTS!
Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may refuse to participate or leave the study at any time. If you decide to not participate in the study or leave the study early, it will not result in any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. During the testing, if you feel uncomfortable at
anytime you can quit.!
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CONFIDENTIALITY!
Records identifying participants will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations and will not be made publicly available. However,
federal government regulatory agenciesand the Institutional Review Board (a
committee that reviews and approves human subject research studies) may inspect and/or copy your records for quality assurance and data analysis. These records
may contain private information. !
To ensure confidentiality to the extent permitted by law, the following measures will
be taken.!
The participant’s identity will be anonymous all throughout the study. Only the researchers will have access to the data. The data will be entered and kept in a
password-protected database located on the researchers’ computers. All data files
will be destroyed once entered in the computer for analysis.!
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QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS!
You are encouraged to ask questions at any time during this study. For further information about the study contact Ana-Paula Correia, Supervisor, email [email protected], or Zack Batsaikhan, Principal Investigator,
If you have any questions about the rights of research subjects or research-related
injury, please contact IRB Administrator, (515) 294-4566, [email protected], or Director,
Office for Responsible Research, (515) 294-3115, 1138 Pearson Hall, Ames, IA 50011. !
SUBJECT SIGNATURE!
Your signature indicates that you voluntarily agree to participate in this study, that the study has been explained to you, that you have been given the time to read the document and that your questions have been satisfactorily answered. You will receive a copy of the signed and dated written informed consent prior to your
participation in the study.!
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Subject’s Name (printed) ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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Subject’s Signature! ! ! ! ! ! ! Date!
APPENDIX D. TASK LIST!
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(Imagine you’re at Starbucks with a friend. Remember that Starbucks is offering 10% discount to the “nobile” challenge winner.)!
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1. Sign up!
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2. Login to “nobile”!
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3. View your profile!
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4. Edit your profile!
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5. Find a friend named “Zack” and send a friend request!
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6. Start a “nobile” challenge!
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7. Invite your friend “Zack” to the challenge!
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8. Begin the challenge and go “no+mobile” for 5 minutes
(Imagine you’ve received an email, and several Facebook notifications during the challenge. You’re encouraged to check them.)!
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9. Finish the challenge!
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10. Change password!
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11. Explore the application!
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12. Sign out!