Over the weekend I completed the rest of my card sorting studies: 3 in-person closed sorts, 3 remote open sorts, & 3 remote closed sorts (remote sorts via uxpunk.com).
Closed Sorts
Participants were given 6 categories (bright green post-its) based on the results of the initial in-person open sorts in which to place website items. If participants felt items did not fit appropriately into any of the categories, they were permitted to create limited new categories (small white paper tabs) at the end.
Participant 4: Angie, MU student, Chemistry major
Participant 4 particularly noted that Policies could/should potentially be in two places. While she felt they would all be appropriate under a "Policies" tab, she could also see this information being helpful within "Rooms & Rates." Subject 5 also felt the "City Events Calendar," "Special Events," & "Local Attractions" should be exterior links on the homepage.
Participant 5: Magenta, MU student, Chemistry major
Participant 6: Emily, MU student, Psychology major
General observations from these closed card sorts including "Contact Us" being put in the "Home" tab rather than the "About Us" as I envisioned. As well, there was confusion over what "Special Events" were; rather than the subjects interpreting it as something the hotel would host like a wedding, it was often paired with "City Events."
Remote Open Sorts
As with the first round of card sorting, participants were asked to group items together into categories & then name the categories.
Participant 7: Kate, MU student, English major
Participant 7 created 8 categories, surprisingly close to what the site actually had: Gallery, Home, Location, Policies, Room Rates, Special Offers, Special Wishes, & Welcome.
Participant 8: Brendan, MU student, Biology major
Participant 8 also created 8 categories, though only 6 or 7 are usuable: Disorganize List of Links, Events/Attractions, Photo Galleries, Room Types & Info, Specials/Deals, & Virtual Tours, leaving Press in the category "Wut." My guess would be the participant did not read "Press" as reviews & mentions in media.
Participant 9: Melanie, MU student, Meteorology major
Participant 9 created 9 categories, though a couple of them have only one item inside. Welcome & In-Room Extras are each on their own though, after looking over the subject's break down of each category, could've easily fit into other categories. The categories are as follows: About Us, Gallery, In-Room Extras, Make Reservations, Policies, Rooms, Site Map, Special Offers & Events, & Welcome. Welcome (& its subsequent Welcome Slideshow) could probably fit with the item Welcome in her category Site Map, unless she meant it to be a portal into the site as it currently is. In-Room Extras (& its subsequent In-Room Massage) could probably fit with the item In-Room extras in her Room Rates category. Looking back, I could've made it clearer that subjects avoid single-item categories.
Another thing I noted from participant 9 was how she constructed her category Site Map; instead of putting category names within their categories, she put them into Site Map.
Remote Closed Sorts
For the remote closed sorts, as with the in-person closed sorts, participants were given 6 categories based on the initial in-person open sorts in which to place website items: About Us, Gallery, Home, Policies, Rooms & Rates, & Special Offers. Also similar to the in-person closed sorts, participants were given permission to create limited new categories at the end for items they felt did not appropriately fit.
Participant 10: Quang, MU student, Computer Science major
Participant 11: Ben, MU Student, English major
Participant 12: Meg, MU student, Science Ed major
Participant 12 was the only to create a new category, Things to Do, including Local Attractions & Special Events. Like many before, participant 12 misinterpreted Special Events as events around town rather than events that can be held at the hotel.
All-Around Observations & Conclusions
- The category Home may be too ambiguous, so I'm thinking to still have a homepage, but perhaps not use it in the nav, rather clicking the logo would take you back home.
- Policies also seems to be unnecessary as a top-level category, rather a subcategory of Rooms & Rates would be more fitting. I'm even thinking some of the Special Offers could go with Rooms & Rates, but that would leave Special Events (Weddings) on their own.
- What to do with Make Reservations--as its own category, with Rooms & Rates, with Rooms & Rates as well as Special Offers & Events.
- "Club Pier" mailing list sign up would fit better with Special Offers than About Us
