The effect of PSpice software on Cal Poly students' ability to learn electrical engineering concepts formed the basis for this study. Usability testing of nine subjects investigated this relationship through two surveys and a series of observed engineering tasks.
It was discovered that students in this study approached engineering problems differently based upon their identified learning styles. Software models that did not reflect real-world counterparts confused users.
Overloaded dialog boxes, poor feedback, and difficult-to-discover
features all frustrated users in this study. When the software did not meet
user goals, use of the product was adversely affected. Finally recommendations
were made as to how knowledge of user learning styles can improve the design
of future user interactions and how software impacts student learning at universities.
Usability Research (Experiment Design, Execution, and Analysis), Talk Aloud Reporting, Informed Consent, Subject Recruitment, and Heuristic Evaluation.