A usability study of the SAMAP web site.

Abstract

The goal of this research was to conduct a usability study on Digital Innovation’s (DISA) South African Music Archive Project (SAMAP) website. In order to achieve this goal, it was very important to first (1) understand more fully the expectations of potential users and then (2) to identify any mismatches between the proposed Dublin Core system and users’ search techniques. Many researchers have pointed out that a system that is not easy to use, does not match user requirements, and ignores usability studies is likely to fail (Pearrow, 2000; del Galdo & Nielsen, 1996; Shneiderman & Plaisant, 2005; Kuniavsky, 2003). This study was conducted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College Campus in Durban, South Africa. A qualitative research method was chosen for this study within an eclectic-mixed methods-pragmatic paradigm which favours multiple data collection research instruments to collect data. Data collected was mostly of a qualitative nature and has been interrogated using NVivo™. The patterns that emerged out of this study will establish a better understanding of multi-disciplinary online music archives and website designs. A discussion of the findings and recommendations are presented in the final chapter of this dissertation, but essentially the study demonstrates the need to more fully understand user requirements before development takes place.