CS 3724
Homework 2: Measuring Metrics
Part 1 due September 25 via email
Part 2 due October 11 via email
In class, we talked about metrics for the design of Web pages.
Quite often, there is little empirical evidence supporting these metrics.
This assignment asks you to analyze Web sites to determine
if reasonable design metrics can be gleaned from the site.
See the
recent ACM CHI paper
titled "Empirically Validated Web Page Design Metrics"
for background.
In conducting this work
and completing your final writeup,
you should address the following points:
- What domain did you choose to analyze? Why? How did you divide
the domain into "good" and "bad" sites?
- What metrics did you choose to examine? Why do you think these metrics
are particularly important for this domain?
- How did you collect data from the sites? Describe the method
you used in enough detail so that someone else could perform it.
- Analyze the data and present your results.
Are there differences between "good" and "bad" sites?
You will want to use charts, graphs, and other means
to illustrate your points.
Your analysis does not have to be to the degree as Ivory et al's,
but you should at least show mean values, ranges, and distributions.
- Does this technique show promise for the domain you selected?
Are the metrics reasonable, or do they paint a poor picture
of the domain? Could the metrics be used as design guidelines?
As evaluation criteria?
Phase 1 simply asks you to email your idea and project team
to the TA (pschoen@cs.vt.edu) with the subject CS3724-HW2-team.
Your idea should include the list of sites that you plan to analyze,
at least three metrics that you plan to evaluate.
Your project team can consist of up to three members.
Only one team member should email this information to the TA.
For Phase 2, please prepare the following:
- A 6-page writeup describing the situation and proposing
a solution. Be sure to answer the above questions in your writeup.
The writeup should be emailed (in Microsoft Word or HTML format)
to the TA (pschoen@cs.vt.edu) with the subject CS3724-HW2
as well as printed out and handed in.
- A 2-minute presentation of your idea. In class, each group
will select one person to present to the entire class.
Good luck and have fun!
Contact Information:
Scott McCrickard
mccricks@cs.vt.edu