GovStat statistical interactive glossary: Two studies of effectiveness and control

Abstract

The GovStat Statistical Interactive Glossary (SIG) is designed to allow users of government statistical websites to consult definitions of statistical terms while continuing their current task of browsing statistical websites. In this paper, we present results from two studies of the SIG that evaluated the effectiveness of the SIG presentations. We specifically focus on two areas: the effects of three presentation formats (text only, graphics + text, animation + text) on user performance and preferences, and the effects of three levels of controls for animations on user performance and preferences. Our findings have implications for designers of just-in-time help, as well as raising questions for future research.

Investigating and modeling metadata use to support information architecture development in the statistical knowledge network

“…What types of presentations actually enable a user to make use of the help? Work in progress by the GovStat team with statistical glossary entries is indicating that some types of concepts may be more successfully understood with animations versus text or graphics (Brown, Wilbur, Haas, & Cao, 2005). Understanding how particular uncertainties can be identified in context and then how to present relevant scaffolding is a nontrivial problem.…”