Abstract
This study was a follow-up to determine the psychometric
quality of the usability questionnaire items derived from a previous study
(Ryu and Smith-Jackson, 2005), and to find a subset of items that represents
a higher measure of reliability and validity. To evaluate the items, the
questionnaire was administered to a representative sample involving approximately
300 participants. The findings revealed a six-factor structure, including
(1) Ease of learning and use, (2) Assistance with operation and problem
solving, (3) Emotional aspect and multimedia capabilities, (4) Commands
and minimal memory load, (5) Efficiency and control, and (6) Typical tasks
for mobile phones. The appropriate 72 items constituted the Mobile Phone
Usability Questionnaire (MPUQ), which evaluates the usability of mobile
phones for the purpose of making decisions among competing variations in
the end-user market, determining alternatives of prototypes during the development
process, and evolving versions during an iterative design process.
Practitioner’s Take Away
- The MPUQ can have a substantial and positive effect on evaluating the
usability of mobile products for the purpose of making decisions among
competing product variations in the end-user market, alternative prototypes
during the development process, and evolving versions of a same product
during an iterative design process. - Usability researchers, practitioners, and mobile device developers will
be able to take advantage of MPUQ or the subscales of MPUQ to expedite
their decision making in the comparative evaluation of their mobile products
or prototypes. - The MPUQ is particularly helpful in evaluating mobile phones, because
it is the first usability questionnaire tailored to these products. - The questionnaire can serve as a tool for finding diagnostic information
to improve specific usability dimensions and related interface elements.