Redesigning For Experience - REX : An Approach for the Evaluation of User Experience and Suggestion of Improvements in Mobile Applications

Abstract

User eXperience (UX) refers to a holistic perspective and an enrichment of traditional quality models with non-utilitarian concepts, such as fun, joy, pleasure, hedonic value or ludic value. In order to evaluate UX in software applications, several technologies (tools, methods, techniques) have been proposed that range from using questionnaires to employing biometrics to gather quantitative and qualitative data on users’ experience. However, there is a need for research in the development of specific UX evaluation technologies that are easy and comfortable to use from the point of view of users, while supporting software engineers in the correction of the aspects that cause poor experiences. Additionally, new UX approaches should be proposed for evaluating mobile applications, as there is still a shortage of methods for this type of applications, which is rising in demand. This doctoral dissertation proposes an alternative approach for evaluating mobile applications called Redesigning for EXperience (REX), which intends to be less intrusive for users when extracting UX data, while generating reports containing design suggestions for improving the UX. We assessed the acceptance of the initial versions of the REX approach from the point of view of users and software engineers in two studies. When compared to 3E, a qualitative UX evaluation method, the results showed that REX was perceived as more fun, useful and more interactive. Additionally, software engineers considered REX useful and easy to understand, while suggesting improving its report to facilitate its understanding and increase its use. After working on the improvements opportunities from the empirical studies, we developed a tool support for the REX approach called the REX report generator. Also, we carried out an observational study to verify to which extent the REX approach could be applied in a real software development project. Thus, REX was employed by users to evaluate a mobile educational application and a discussion meeting was held with the software development team to discuss the improvement suggestions provided by REX to support the redesign process. The findings from the observational study indicated the satisfaction of users to report their experience with the REX approach, while the members of the development team agreed with the usefulness of the REX report and its improvement suggestions. By providing design suggestions, we aim to support software engineers in improving the UX of the developed mobile applications, thus increasing their quality and acceptance in the market.