In my recent post for the library's Tech Talk blog, Streamlining Open Access Agreement Lookup for U-M Authors, I dug into how one round of usability testing with U-M researchers and librarians reshaped the Journals with Article Processing Charge (APC) Agreements tool. This is a new website for locating publications covered under transformative (also known as read and publish) agreements—offering either a discount or a full waiver for article processing charges (APCs) to publish as open access.
If you’ve ever wondered how a few hours of user observation and feedback can make a huge difference, this project is a great example. Watching just six users navigate our prototype highlighted areas for improvement and corrected initial assumptions—like the belief that linking directly to publisher sites for agreements and terms would be efficient (it wasn't; those sites are often a maze and linking first to librarian-curated notes about each agreement helps guide prospective authors on what to consider). (For specific details, see the section labeled "What we learned in usability testing.")
Truly a "tiny study," this usability testing put the finishing touches on a carefully planned and implemented tool.