Viva Voce | Master's | Dokowe Tembo | Usability Evaluation of Higher Education Institution Portals

Postgraduate oral examination involving Dokowe Tembo [1], a member of the DataLab research group [2] at The University of Zambia [3].
Viva Voce Details
Dokowe Thelma Tembo
Dissertation Title: Usability Evaluation of Higher Education Institution Library Portals in Zambia
Date of Oral Examination; March 22, 2024
Supervisor: Dr. Lighton Phiri
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the adoption and usability of library portals in Zambian universities. The research objectives were threefold: first, to determine the extent of adoption of library portals in Zambian universities; second, to assess the integration of key library portal features; and third, to examine users' perceived usability of these portals. A mixed-method design was employed, including questionnaires distributed to the 62 universities registered under the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to collect their URLs. A heuristic evaluation was conducted to assess portal characteristics, involving 12 expert librarians as participants. Additionally, a System Usability Scale (SUS) was utilized to gauge the perceptions of lecturers and students towards the portals, with a sample of 20 lecturers and 304 students. The findings revealed that only three Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Zambia had adopted library portals: ZCAS University, Mulungushi University, and the University of Zambia (UNZA). The study indicated that participants generally rated the usability of these portals as average. Specifically, the average SUS scores for UNZA (n=132, SD=53.685), ZCAS (n=68, SD=60.28), and Mulungushi (n=124, SD=51.865) were all above the 50 SUS score threshold. Despite being categorized as 'Ok' according to the SUS scores, the study emphasized that this rating falls within the marginal acceptability range. The results underscored the limited presence of library portals in Zambian HEIs and the need for universities to prioritize the redesign of their existing portals to enhance information provision and overcome distance barriers. Furthermore, the study recommended that the three universities with library portals focus on improving their platforms to encompass all essential characteristics of effective library portals.
Timeline
00:00:00 Dissertation Overview
00:00:18 Presentation Outline
00:00:21 Background
00:01:34 Problem Statement
00:02:10 Research Objectives and Questions
00:02:42 Significance of the Study
00:03:13 Conceptual Framework
00:03:56 Literature Review
00:04:29 Methodology
00:06:17 Limitations
00:06:44 Results and Discussions
00:08:26 Conclusion
00:08:48 Recommendations
00:09:24 Bibliography and Publications
00:09:40 Q&A Invitation
[1] datalab.unza.zm/index.php/peo...
[2] datalab.unza.zm
[3] www.unza.zm