Avaliação de usabilidade em sites de notícias a partir de grupos universitários

Abstract

The consumption of journalistic information via the Internet in Brazil has surpassed traditional media such as television, printed newspapers/magazines and radio. As such, in addition to the credibility of the news, usability has become a fundamental aspect so that readers can have a satisfactory interaction when searching for information. However, there are few studies on how news sites can be designed to provide high-quality usability. One of the main challenges is associated with the complexity of usability evaluation, since news sites are accessed by user profiles from different geographical locations in the country, with varied habits and customs, considering the easy dissemination of information in the online format. The aim of this research was to analyze the usability of news websites based on users living in different geographical locations in Brazil, in order to identify possible contrasts and similarities in the evaluation results. This research is classified as a case study and has a quantitative-qualitative approach. Based on these methods, a study was carried out with groups of university students from two higher education institutions (HEIs), located in the north and south of Brazil, with the aim of assessing usability when reading the G1, R7, Metrópoles, Uol Notícias and Terra news sites, the five most accessed in the country. Throughout the study, the following were collected: individual user data on experience with technology and news consumption, in order to understand the participating public; data generated from user interaction with the sites investigated, using a multimodal capture tool; and user satisfaction with the sites evaluated using the QUIS (Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction) test, chosen for its validity, standardization and focus on user satisfaction. The results indicated that, despite geographical differences, the location of users had little influence on usability evaluations. The research highlighted the importance of considering individual factors when designing news interfaces, going beyond geographical location. The study contributed by presenting a new perception of usability on news sites, based on the use of a multimodal capture tool, as well as with the evolution of research methodologies by demonstrating the effectiveness of more advanced methods for the context of usability evaluation in digital environments.