Intuitive navigation : the impact of information architecture (IA) on user experience and its cognitive psychology relevance : case study: Jobs page of Glassdoor & LinkedIn
Vu, Thi Phuong Thanh (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202404298390
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202404298390
Tiivistelmä
This thesis work studied the role of information architecture in bringing a good user experience on digital products such as websites or mobile applications.
To answer the research question, the thesis report focused on 4 main components of information architecture which are the organization system, labeling system, navigation system, search system, and its natural dependence between user, content, and context. All of them were indicated by Rosenfeld and Morville (1998) who also clarified that those components as hidden parts would provide significant support on which and how the information would be organized on the interface to help users have good navigation on the interface and affect the satisfaction of users. Furthermore, the thesis indicated a notable relationship between cognitive psychology and information architecture in user experience, by analyzing three popular aspects of cognitive psychology that are mental models, Gestalt principles, and cognitive load. Besides, highlighted techniques and objects contributing to an effective information architecture were shared.
Also, various research methodologies, which were content analysis, interview, usability testing, and System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire, were applied to the case study of Jobs page on Glassdoor and LinkedIn. Those techniques aimed to analyze the interface based on 4 main components of information architecture, evaluate users’ satisfaction with navigation on the interface, and from those, reveal the quality and logic of information architecture as hidden works.
To conclude, the report shows that establishing a good foundation in IA works leads to a stable system of beneficial content and logical information organization for users on websites or mobile applications. Also, it results in efficiency during maintenance and modifications for the product in further development and improvement to consistently bring a good user experience.
To answer the research question, the thesis report focused on 4 main components of information architecture which are the organization system, labeling system, navigation system, search system, and its natural dependence between user, content, and context. All of them were indicated by Rosenfeld and Morville (1998) who also clarified that those components as hidden parts would provide significant support on which and how the information would be organized on the interface to help users have good navigation on the interface and affect the satisfaction of users. Furthermore, the thesis indicated a notable relationship between cognitive psychology and information architecture in user experience, by analyzing three popular aspects of cognitive psychology that are mental models, Gestalt principles, and cognitive load. Besides, highlighted techniques and objects contributing to an effective information architecture were shared.
Also, various research methodologies, which were content analysis, interview, usability testing, and System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire, were applied to the case study of Jobs page on Glassdoor and LinkedIn. Those techniques aimed to analyze the interface based on 4 main components of information architecture, evaluate users’ satisfaction with navigation on the interface, and from those, reveal the quality and logic of information architecture as hidden works.
To conclude, the report shows that establishing a good foundation in IA works leads to a stable system of beneficial content and logical information organization for users on websites or mobile applications. Also, it results in efficiency during maintenance and modifications for the product in further development and improvement to consistently bring a good user experience.