Comprehensive :

The comprehensive strategy scored app on whether it allows users to manage data manually and whether it provides the option of collecting user sensory data (see Chapter 5, section 5.3.2). The perceived value of the wellness app has been relatively low in the short-term use when it depends only on manual data entries as this requires some effort (Ahtinen et al. 2009). Ahtinen et al. (2008) point out that automatic logging in removes the perceived burden of logging from users and allows continuous logging, as users do not forget to enter data. However, sensory entering of data could increase the entered data errors and reduce the user’s level of awareness of entered data (Ahtinen et al. 2008). Therefore, combining automatic and manual logging is required (Ahtinen et al. 2008). Hence, this concept is covered under the element of comprehensive as it considers apps that allow users to manually enter data and collects sensory data more accurate than apps that just provide one of these features.

Index Score

The last element of the evaluation framework was an element named the index score, which was based on the total scores from each of the usability and design elements. The index score was included in the evaluation framework as the apps evaluation method of this research was based on the evaluation method of Breton et al.

(2009). The Index Score is a scored based on the aforementioned 11 functionality and

determines the index score. Index score values range from 0 to 11 with 11 being the maximum possible score. Therefore, to rank the apps according to the evaluation framework, it required collecting the total number of 11 elements that has been gained by an app in the index score.

The evaluation framework for this research was developed through content analysis of several studies (see Chapter 5). It is able to evaluate all weight loss and diet smartphone apps. Figure 8.2 summarises the elements of the developed evaluation framework.

The developed weight loss and diet evaluation framework has followed a robust evaluating method that is based on several wellness apps evaluation studies such as

Breton et al. (2009), Azar et al. (2013), IMS (2013), and Abroms et al. (2013). It also

included diverse evaluation elements to ensure more holistic evaluation of weight loss and diet apps. To illustrate, the developed evaluation framework has included elements related to the functionality of apps that are supported in the literature. In addition, it included elements related to the design of wellness application. The design side was disregarded by several wellness apps evaluation studies. Thus, the developed evaluation framework provides a more holistic evaluation of wellness apps, specifically, weight loss and diet apps.

Applying the developed evaluation framework to the identified iTunes and Google Play apps identified in stage one of this research has resulted in several

outcomes and five main initial findings (see Chapter 6, and section 6.5). !

Initial Findings One and Two of Chapter six states that the outcomes of applying the developed evaluation framework has shown that none of the iTunes and Google Play apps have achieved the proposed highest index score value (i.e.11). There were two

interpretations for these initial findings.!

The first interpretation was that iTunes and Google Play search engines mainly consider the keywords entered by the users to retrieve the apps. Consequently, retrieving apps only by considering the keywords included in the apps may result in downloading some apps that are not truly related to weight loss and diet. Hence, when the developed evaluation framework evaluated these apps, they achieved low index score values. More discussion of these two initial findings is found in Chapter 6 section 6.5. Findings one and two of Chapter 6 support the three initial findings of Chapter one.

Initial Finding Three of Chapter 6 states that the existence of all elements of the evaluation framework in the iTunes and Google Play apps, additionally indicated to the relevance of the elements of evaluation framework. To illustrate, all the identified eleven elements were present in at least one or more of the iTunes and Google Play apps. This indicates that none of the identified elements were irrelevant or inappropriate in evaluating weight loss and diet apps. The outcomes of the thematic analysis of apps user reviews have resulted in 11 Related Categories that are directly related to the elements of evaluation framework. This supports that the elements of evaluation framework are relevant. Also it supported by Initial Finding Four of Chapter seven which indicated to that the outcomes of comparing the emerged Related Categories for each app and the outcome of the evaluation framework for each app is relatively matched in iTunes apps, with a closer match in the Google Play apps. As the number of user reviews are more in Google Play apps, the existence of Related Categories were more than in the iTunes user reviews. However, by assuming that if iTunes had the same amount of user reviews, the existence of the Related Categories would be more in iTunes user reviews. Thus, this indicates to the existence of the framework element in the apps, which supports finding three of applying the evaluation framework to the apps (Chapter 6, section 6.5). Figure 8.1 demonstrates these two relationship between the

initial finding three of Chapter six and the initial finding one and 4 of the thematic analysis (see Chapter 7, section 7.6).

The Fourth Initial Finding from applying the evaluation framework on iTunes and Google Play apps (see chapter 6, 6.5) had shown that in the iTunes apps all usability elements occurred in at least one app. However, in the Google Play apps, all usability elements except the element ‘Comprehensive’ were present in at least one app.

‘Comprehensive’!was the last element of the developed evaluation framework. It has

been previously defined and discussed in Chapter 5 section 5.3.2. The importance of each of the evaluation elements in the weight loss and diet context, including the comprehensive element, have been discussed in initial finding three of Chapter 6 (see

section 6.5). ‘Comprehensive’!is a significant attribute and it should be included in

weight loss and diet apps. However, despite the importance of the comprehensive attribute in weight loss and diet apps, it was not present in any of the Google Play apps. This outcome was supported when the thematic analysis of Google Play user reviews found that there were no themes related to this element. Therefore, there was no

category that related to the Comprehensive element (see Chapter 7, 7.6). This finding,

from applying the evaluation framework to Google Play apps, matched initial finding three that resulted from conducting the deductive thematic analysis of Google Play apps user reviews (see Chapter 7, section 7.6). Figure 8.1 presents the relationship between initial finding four of Chapter six and initial finding three of the thematic analysis of

Google Play user reviews.!

Initial Finding Five from applying the evaluation frameworks to the identified apps, has resulted in more apps with an index score below average than above average. This supports the outcome that none of the apps has achieved a high index score value

(see chapter 6, section 6.5, Initial finding 1, 2, and 5). !

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R. O3: Compare The Outcomes Of The Developed Evaluation