Evaluation of a graduate school Web-site by graduate assistants

College Student Journal, June, 2003 by Choo Kiang Ng, Phil Parette, Jack Sterrett

Friendliness/First Impression

General

Findings of this study indicate that the first impression that a visitor has when visiting a Web site is also deemed to be an important characteristic (Table 2). More than three-fourths (81.4%) of the respondents indicated that it was important or very important for a Web site to be 'impressive' at first sight. Many visitors may perceive a Web site as user-friendly if a good first impression is experienced. Most often, visitors will gain the first impression from the splash page (i.e., home page) of a Web site since normally it is the first Web page they will encounter (Vista et al., 2001).

Site Specific

Findings in Table 5 indicate that more than three-fourths of the respondents (77.6%) agreed or strongly agreed that the home (splash) page was attractive and had strong eye appeal, while 93.1% were immediately aware of their location at the site. With regard to whether "The home page is designed clearly enough to be successfully manipulated by its intended users", 80.7% of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement. A few of the respondents (2.3%) disliked the graphic images presented on the home page and the combination of colors used. Only 59.7% of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that, "The home page makes you want to continue exploring the web site."

Graphics

General

Approximately fifty percent of the respondents rated major emphasis on graphic images or pictures as important or very important while 25.6% of the respondents were not sure about this element (Table 2). A total of 56.6% of the respondents indicated that it is important or very important that a Web site not place too much emphasis on graphic elements.

Site Specific

Although a majority of the respondents (56.6%) indicated that heavy emphasis should not be placed on graphics, four respondents (3.1%) associated slow download speed with the size of graphics on the web site (Table 5). Respondents indicated large graphics as the reason why the Web site was slow.

Distinctiveness

General

More than half of the respondents (62.8%) indicated it was important or very important for a Web site to be distinct from other Web sites (Table 2). Approximately 23% of the respondents were not sure whether or not distinctiveness is an important attribute of a Web site.

Site Specific

No questions pertaining to 'Distinctiveness' were asked in the Site Specific's section/category.

Organization by Target Audience

General

Closely related to organization/site architecture is the organization of a Web site by target audience (i.e., linking of Web pages by grouping them into such categories as prospective students, current students, faculty and staff, and alumni, rather than groupings by functional subjects such as admissions, academics, administration, and finances.). A total of 86.9% of the respondents indicated it was important or very important for a Web site to focus on their needs (Table 2).

Site Specific

No questions pertaining to 'Organization by Target Audience' were asked in the Site Specific's section/category.